Over 21,000 Mandera residents will get a free medical cover to assist them get affordable medical services.
The National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) Regional Manager, Brian Mwangi said the government is committed to achieving affordable medical care for all Mandera and North Eastern residents.
Mwangi said NHIF would soon open up a regional office in Takaba town where officers would work with the county government in the ongoing biometric registration.
He said they were targeting to bringing more residents on board and they would be trans versing the six sub counties of Mandera East, Lafey, Mandera West, Mandera South, Mandera Central and Banisa to ensure they reached as many people as possible.
Department of Health CEC, Mohamud Adan Mohammed said the county government is committed to improving health services in the region.
He said the county government has improved health services in the region including improving the infrastructure and manpower in health centres.
Mandera East Deputy County Commissioner, Ezekiel Cheboton asked area residents to take the biometric registration and get free health care.
He said area residents were overburdened with taking care of personal health and reiterated the national government’s commitment in helping achieve a healthy society.
Mandera Governor, Ali Roba said Mandera has invested huge budgetary allocation to the health department. Roba thanked the national government for prioritizing health services, especially free health care.
The governor challenged the national government to pump in more resources to ASAL counties as they have been marginalized since independence.
Roba said the county government would continue supporting residents to achieve affordable medical services and work with like- minded individuals towards improving health services in the region.
Mandera inherited poor medical services at the advent of devolution with only Mandera County hospital being operational.
The situation has been compounded by Covid-19 infections where neighbouring countries Ethiopia and Somalia residents have been seeking treatment from Mandera County hospital further constraining meagre health resources.
By Dickson Githaiga
