Baringo County is set to register more than 14,811 elderly and vulnerable people to the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) biometric registration drive across all its seven sub counties.
While officiating the exercise at KANU Office Ground in Kabarnet Town for Baringo Central, Chief Officer for Health David Cherop said the weeklong exercise was part of big four agenda for Universal Health Care coverage that targets vulnerable people in the society.
“This is a good initiative where the government will chip in to pay NHIF for the beneficiaries so that they can enjoy universal health care services,” he said.
Cherop called on all the vulnerable residents to register at their respective sub counties for them to benefit from comprehensive medical services offered at all the county health facilities.
At the same time the chief officer urged all those coming for the registration exercise to adhere to covid-19 guidelines and measures put in place by the Ministry of Health especially during a time the county experienced a surge in infections.
The head of the NHIF South Rift team Martin Mbai noted that the main mandate of their organization was to see every deserving person selected for the programme is biometrically registered.
“Going forward, one should be using biometrics which captures your details in order to get health service at the click of the button,” he said.
Salome Chelimo, County Director of Health noted that the initiative will be helpful to vulnerable people from the county who have been faced with the ravages of Covid 19 pandemic.
She urged them to take advantage of the programme by visiting county health facilities to seek prompt treatment.
Targok Chelulei, a widow aged 68 noted that she has been struggling a lot to raise funds for medical treatment after the demise of the husband whom she was depending upon.
She said that the medical scheme will be a boost to her and the family since they can no longer call for fundraisers to offset medical bills whenever she needs to seek treatment.
By Jebichii Chepkwony