The National Insurance Hospital Fund (NHIF) under its Linda Mama programme health insurance subsidy for the poor has paid out over Sh.122 million in medical claims to about 26,000 mothers who underwent normal and caesarean section deliveries in Kericho County over the last two years.
The Kericho NHIF Branch Manager, Ms. Rukia Kaneuje said in 2018 alone, 731 mothers who underwent through caesarean and another 10629 mothers who delivered normally had their maternity medical bills paid to the tune of Sh.60, 379, 100. She added that during the same period, NHIF paid out Sh.12, 476,579 for ante-natal (ANC) and post-natal care (PNC) to 18,239 mothers attended to in both government and private hospitals in the County.
Speaking while presenting the progress reports on Health Insurance Subsidy for the poor in the region, Kaneuje told the County Development Implementation Coordination Committee (CDICC) Chaired by the County Commissioner (CC), Moses Mbaruku that Sh.61, 656,369 has so far been paid out by NHIF’s Linda mama programme to over 14,878 deliveries including 1,027 mothers who underwent caesarean section between January to November 2019.
The Manager further told the CDICC committee that 40,450 mothers have been registered in Linda Mama programme in the County and more are expected to be enlisted for the programme.
She also hailed Kericho county administration for injecting Sh.36 million to Linda Mama programme kitty in order to help mothers from poor families access medical care while delivering their babies.
On secondary school’s, EDU AFYA programme, Rukia said Sh.49, 714,392 has so far been spent to pay health services rendered to 62,239 local secondary school students.
Meanwhile, the County Commissioner (CC), Moses Mbaruku has hailed the devolved unit for offering quality medical services at Kericho referral hospital and other health units across sub counties in the region.
Mbaruku said the Linda Mama health Insurance Subsidy for the poor programme was offering great services to needy mothers.
He said the CDICC committee will formulate ways to enhance sensitization of the programme to ensure more needy mothers were enrolled in it.
Others who attended the CDICC meeting included the Regional Director of the Presidential Delivery Unit and Secretary to the committee, Ms. Khadija Mohamed among others.
By Dominic Cheres
