The CEBA project team had the privilege of meeting with Vihiga County health officials, led by the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Health, to discuss the progress and impact of the Championing Evidence-Based Advocacy (CEBA) project in the county. The meeting served as an opportunity to provide a comprehensive status update on the implementation of the project, and reflect on the achievements of our collaboration over the past three years. The implementation of the CEBA project in Vihiga County has yielded significant and lasting improvements. These achievements include: Increased ownership and domestication of health policies developed at the national level, Setting up of Vihiga county committee to oversee implementation of policies and bills leading to an Increased uptake of health services within the community. Also, a strong local advocacy infrastructure has been established, led by members of the various health professional associations, to foster effective and sustainable local advocacy work. At the policy formulation front, new policies and bills (such as the Nutrition Bill) based on local health data are being developed through a stakeholder-wide consultative process and led by the County Health Management Team (CHMT), thus creating a framework for the inclusion of evidence-informed health priorities in the county's development, including funding plans. The county-level advocacy champions and key influencers continue to engage key decision makers, including non-governmental agencies to support the county government in policy implementation as a sustainable model in the short-to-medium term. One possible lasting impact is the reported improved relationship developed and sustained between the health department and the county’s administration, legislature, and executive, ensuring health issues are prioritized across the various levels of leadership. The CEBA project in Vihiga County stands as a testament to the power of evidence-based advocacy and collaborative action in driving meaningful change. The achievements highlight the importance of local ownership, the role of advocacy agents and a need to continue to build their capacity for a sustained engagement with policymakers. #CEBA #PHC #RMNCAH+N
