The Cabinet secretary for health Susan Nakhumicha has called on the elected and administrative leadership in Marsabit County to carry out a campaign on social health registration among residents amid challenges facing the process.
Nakhumicha said the piloting of the registration was ongoing in order to identify hitches that could clog up the transition from the national health insurance fund (NHIF) to social health insurance fund (SHIF) set for next month.
Speaking in Marsabit when she presided over this year’s World Blood Donor’s Day celebrations, the CS asked the National Government Administrative Officers (NGAO) to join hands with the local leadership headed by Governor Mohamud Ali in sensitising wananchi on the importance of registering with the new health programme.
Nakhumicha, who also visited Dakabaricha village in the outskirts of Marsabit town to assess the piloting of the social health registration, noted that the procedure was faced with a number of challenges that needed to be addressed as a matter of urgency.
Among the challenges that were identified at Waqo Jarso’s household was the lack of identity cards among locals who were previously required to undergo vetting before being issued with the all-important document.
Other drawbacks detected include lack of marriage certificates as many of locals wed traditionally, which does not undergo documentation, poor or lack of internet connectivity, and the fact that many villagers also do not own mobile phones.
The cabinet secretary asked NGAO to advance the issuance of identity cards in order to enable residents to register without any hindrances, as those who fail to join the new regime will not be able to access health care services.
She disclosed that her ministry was working closely with the internet provider, Safaricom to improve connectivity in the remote areas, while community health promoters will be tasked with registering those without cell phones.
To assist the locals in meeting the marriage certificate requirement, the CS asked chiefs to draft notes for those affected certifying their marital status in order to enable them to enrol in SHIF.
On blood donation, Nakhumicha called on Kenyans to continue supporting the drive, which she said assists in saving and prolonging the lives of the sick and accident victims.
The CS who was accompanied by the first daughter Charlene Ruto, acting director general for health Dr. Patrick Amoth, and social health authority (SHA) chairman Dr. Timothy Olweny underscored the importance of functional blood banks in the country saying they were crucial for the effective delivery of health care services.
The cabinet secretary hinted at plans to have the newly established Marsabit Kenya medical training campus start a nursing course by September this year.
In his remarks, Governor Ali said his administration was keen on offering quality health services to the people of Marsabit, adding that the modernization of facilities was ongoing.
The drive saw over 350 pints of blood donated in the past three days.
By Sebastian Miriti
