Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir has today announced that children below the age of five years in Mombasa County will be treated at the Coast general teaching and referral hospital (CGTRH) free of charge.
According to the County boss, the initiative will be funded by various revenue streams generated by the county. He added that the new directive will extend to offer reprieve to the infants up to servicing morgue expenses.
Speaking to Journalists at his office, Nassir further added that the Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital will receive Sh. 6million every month to help underprivileged Mombasa County residents to cater for medical expenses and offset bills.
“I have directed that children aged five years and below will receive free medical treatment and care at the Coast General Teaching and Referral hospital from now henceforth. My administration will pump in a further Sh. 6 million to assist needy citizens with their medical expenses,” said Nassir.
He further said that his government will in the near future roll out the Universal Health Coverage initiative that will see approximately 15,000 families in the Coastal County enrolled in the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF).
He added that the health department will conduct free medical camps across the county in a bid to delocalize much needed services to residents.
This comes after the commissioning of 2,387 Community Health Worker (CHVs) who will augment and bolster service delivery at the grass root level.
Nassir also has directed the CEC in charge of health to make necessary arrangements to have the CHVs run through relevant courses that are aligned to their specialties in order to increase their competence and later be absorbed into the county health department.
Meanwhile, the Governor clarified issues surrounding reports going round that his administration has halted donor support to health facilities and individuals seeking services at different medical centers in the County.
He said that no such directive has been issued by his office and made it clear that donor support was welcomed but a structured approach should be employed in order to keep a record that the county health department can refer to for concurrence.
“We cannot allow a head of every single facility without the agreement of the requisite authority for county facilities to seek donations without going through the laid-down procedures,” said Nassir.
By Andrew Hinga and Mercy Wangari
