Health Cabinet Secretary Dr. Deborah Barasa has asked Kenyans to register with the Social Health Authority (SHA) to enable them to access health care services without straining.
Speaking in Kakamega during the rollout of the registration exercise, Dr. Barasa assured that those visiting health facilities with NHIF will still access services during this transition period.
As of Tuesday morning, according to the Acting Chief Executive Officer of SHA, Elijah Wachira, only 2.4 million Kenyans had registered with the Authority.
He said Kakamega is among the counties with the least registered persons, where about 27,000 had registered.
The CEO who accompanied the CS for health told Kenyans that with SHA, they will contribute only 2.75 per cent of their income and benefit from medical services without incurring other expenses.
Speaking at the same event, Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa supported the new medical scheme, noting that it will enable those who have no capacity to get better medication for their ailments.
“I want to urge residents of Kakamega to register in large numbers so that when you go to our hospitals of Level 2 and Level 3, you will be treated for free,” he noted.
Governor Barasa said that with SHA, there will be no need to worry about raising funds through seeking contributions from friends and families to get treated as the insurance scheme will cater for all expenses.
He said Kakamega County supports the transition from NHIF to SHA, assuring that the county government will collaborate with the national government to ensure that all residents of Kakamega register.
By Moses Wekesa
