Kajiado County Governor Joseph Lenku is urging residents to register with the Social Health Authority (SHA).
Speaking in Kajiado town during the launch of a mass SHA registration drive, Lenku called on all leaders, healthcare professionals, government departments and development partners to ensure that all eligible Kenyans are enrolled with the health insurance.
“It is our shared responsibility to ensure that all Kenyans are registered with SHA as one cannot gamble with health. SHA is restoring dignity to health care, once enrolled, you will be able to access quality healthcare services without struggling financially,” he said.
He pointed out that a large percentage of residents had not yet enrolled in the health insurance program, resulting in their continued exclusion from the essential health services provided under the enhanced scheme.
“Only 30 per cent of Kajiado County residents have registered with the SHA,” Lenku revealed.
Lenku said SHA is offering numerous services in primary health care, emergency services and treatment of chronic diseases for free. Adding that health services under the scheme are free in the county’s Level 1, 2 and 3 hospitals.
He noted that thousands of Kenyans who were previously facing financial ruin due to high medical bills can now seek treatment with dignity free from fear and uncertainty once they are enrolled with the health cover.
The Governor, also revealed that SHA registration desks had been set up in all healthcare facilities and Community Health Promoters and Public Health Officers were conducting door to door campaigns to enroll the locals.
Lenku emphasized that the new health care scheme was operational contrary to the propaganda being peddled out to Kenyans that the new scheme was not offering the intended services.
Lenku urged leaders to stop politicizing healthcare, emphasizing that the systems were functioning effectively and hospitals were receiving reimbursements.
However, the Governor pointed out that there are still challenges that needed to be addressed such as inaccurate personal details on Identification Documents and difficulties in enrolling minors.
“As we celebrate the roll out of this program, we must acknowledge that there are still challenges that need to be addressed. Those in marginalized areas for example face digital registration challenges due to limited access to mobile technology,” he added.
Lenku further emphasized the importance of strengthening emergency response systems adding that it was critical in saving lives.
Besides that, the governor commissioned six fully equipped ambulances donated by the Korean International Cooperation Agency and Good Neighbors, the governor reiterated the county government’s commitment to providing quality healthcare to all residents regardless of their location.
“Beyond registration, we must ensure that patients in hard to reach areas receive swift and professional medical attention. The ambulances which are fully equipped with lifesaving equipment will help in saving lives and significantly reduce avoidable mortality,” said Lenku.
The new ambulances will benefit several hospitals in remote areas of the county, including Ewuaso Nkidong’i Health Centre, Mashuuru Sub County Hospital, Shompole Health Centre, Elang’ata Enkima Dispensary, Namelok Health Centre and Ng’atataek Health Centre.
By Rop Janet
