Nyandarua County cancer patients to be enrolled with the NHIF

Nyandarua County Governor Mr Francis Kimemia has directed that all cancer patients within the County be enrolled with the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) Programme.
The Governor disclosed that the county had set aside Sh3 million to assist in monitoring and sensitizing cancer patients and survivors with a view to mitigating its effects.
Kimemia gave the directive when he received leaders of the Nyandarua Cancer Support Group led by their secretary Ms Susan Macharia in his boardroom Thursday.
The group which was presented to the governor by Nyandarua County Commissioner Mr Boaz Cherutich comprise300 cancer survivors and patients who would be accredited to the NHIF by the County government.
Kimemia who accepted to be the group’s patron told the Finance County Executive Committee Mrs Mary Mugwanja who was present to devise ways of assisting the cancer survivors by involving them in income generating projects to enable them to be self reliant.
“Cancer is one of the major killer diseases in the country hence there is need to sensitise cancer patients and survivors on the means of mitigating its effects within the county,” said the county boss.
The group secretary Ms Susan Macharia called on the county government to empower cancer survivors and patients by creating strategic income generating projects for the team.
She said the group’s main objectives was to sensitise people on preventive measures and empower the community to decisively deal with the cancer issues be it preventive, medication or dealing with survivors.
“We are target to reach out to10,000 people within the community of Nyandarua County in the next one year, engage 50 opinion leaders to reach out to the residents and to motivate them through leadership forums,” said the group secretary.
Ms Macharia said that the group aims at creating income generating projects for cancer survivors as a way of empowering them.
“The group shall also seek to empower more than 300 cancer survivors who have bravely come out of the disease to help their colleagues,” she added.
The programme is in line with the government’s Big Four Agenda on provision of universal health care.
By Charles Njoroge/ Jesse Mwitwa