The Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) led by the Director General (DG) Prof. Elijah Maritim Songok has rolled out a campaign to mobilize Social Health Authority registration exercise in Nandi County.
KEMRI, which was assigned three Counties of Nandi, Baringo and Narok by the ministry of health is implementing a piloting strategy through the use of Community Health Promoters (CHPs) to ensure as many people as possible register with SHA.
Speaking during the roll out exercise which included training and sensitization of CHPs on SHA Prof. Songok revealed that KEMRI was implementing the piloting strategy in Nandi Hills ward, Nandi East sub County and Terik ward, Nandi South sub County.
The DG divulged that in the new strategy the CHP whom they have empowered will be doing a house to house registration to expedite the registration process noting that Nandi County is below the expected target.
“We are here today as a saga in the ministry of health trying to support the registration of SHA in Kenya. The data is not so encouraging but we are really working hard to make sure that we have more people registering for SHA. We have over 100,000 CHPs in the Country whom we want to utilize by training and capacity building them to help in house to house registration,” explained prof. Songok vowing to ensure KEMRI tackles the challenges hindering the registration process as a measure to expedite registration of households.
He further urged leaders at all levels to ensure they give the right information to the general public to make them heed to the SHA registration call.
Present at the roll out exercise Nandi East sub County Deputy County Commissioner Ngalia Ndaya noted that the National Government Administrative Officers were taking part in enhancing the SHA registration through mobilizing and sensitizing the general public.
“So far in Nandi County we have registered 157,000 which is about 17 per cent. We have registration points where every chief has been on boarded as SHA registration agents. The best gift you can give to your household this Christmas is SHA registration,” pointed Ndaya calling on those who are yet to enroll to take a step to ensure they enjoy the SHA benefits in case of illness.
According to the Community Health Promoters some of the challenges they are facing during SHA registration that hinder the process include lack of information on the part of the public and system breakdown among other issues.
“Most people do not understand the new health model. We take a lot of time explaining to them about SHA before they accept to be registered. At the same time the system takes a lot of time to synchronize data making us to register few people per day,” explained the CHPs, adding that if the system is improved they will expedite the registration process and hit 100% in a period of one month.
There are three funds under SHA namely; Primary Health Care Fund (PHCF), Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) and Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund (ECCF) all of which are managed by one authority.
By Ruth Mainye
