Civil servants have been challenged to take advantage of the annual medical check-up offered under the comprehensive medical scheme for civil servants that the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) administers.
Speaking during an NHIF sensitization forum at a hotel in Kisii town, NHIF Representative, Steven Mwendwa said they had introduced health education, wellness, and counseling as part of the institution’s efforts to focus on prevention.
He told the government workers that good physical and mental health results from one’s deliberate effort and they can access the wellness services at any of the NHIF-accredited facilities.
Mwendwa added they are in the final stages of seeking approval for the regulations amended by the NHIF Act where the institution will be known as the National Health Insurance Fund and their focus will now not only be on curative, but also on preventive health services.
“The Act will allow NHIF to introduce new aspects that we could not do because we were only limited to hospitalization,” said the NHIF Representative.
Ms. Catherine Ng’ang’a from the State Department of Public Service noted the government has been paying for the medical scheme because it is greatly concerned with the burden of illness which is increasing every year.
Ms. Ng’ang’a pointed out that the medical check-ups will not only provide an avenue for early diagnosis and cost-effective interventions for better outcomes, but also promote prevention and a healthy lifestyle.
The officer decried the increasing cases of mental health illnesses in the public service and the larger society, in particular depression, and urged civil servants to seek medical assistance whenever they experience any mental health disorder.
She also encouraged the government workers to continue learning more about the provisions of the medical scheme and consult with the local NHIF branch office whenever an issue arises.
By Mercy Osongo
