The county government of Murang’a has begun registering new members of an expanded medical scheme dubbed Kang’ata Care.
Registration of a fresh roll of beneficiaries in the scheme is taking place in all public primary schools in the county and the exercise targets to recruit a total of 17, 000 new members.
Kang’ata Care programme was established in the last financial year and currently benefits 20, 000 vulnerable households.
The expanded medical cover which is offered by the NHIF enables the beneficiaries to also access optical and dental services.
Kang’ata Care medical scheme also caters for last expense account for the family members who are included in the health insurance cover.
In the last financial year, the county government of Murang’a allocated Sh162 million for implementation of the scheme, with Sh80 million now allocated in the current budget to beef up the number of beneficiaries.
The county government formed a multi sectoral committee to vet applicants with priority given to persons with disabilities, those with terminal illnesses and those from low-income households.
Speaking when he oversaw the recruitment exercise in various areas, deputy governor Stephen Munania commended the impact of the scheme saying for the last one year since the establishment of the cover, poor families have been receiving free medical treatment.
He noted that the current county administration is committed to supporting health care for the residents of Murang’a.
“The recruitment is being done in all public primary schools, and in every primary school, 28 households will be registered and included in the medical scheme,” Munania said.
Munania further said “affordable medical cover was a campaign promise to the people of Murang’a and the county administration will keep on expanding provision of health services to the locals and especially those suffering from terminal illnesses.”
The deputy governor said many residents have not been able to pay NHIF premiums owing to the high cost of living, forcing the county government to step in to cushion them.
He noted that the medical scheme has been very supportive to many families since one NHIF policy covers members of a nuclear family.
A section of residents claimed that they have been unable to pay for NHIF services due to the high cost of living, saying the card by the County government has been very supportive especially to individuals in poor households.
By Bernard Munyao
