Thousands of residents in Kitui County Wednesday received free treatment and medical checkup provided by medics from National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) during the fund’s awareness and recruitment of new members.
The NHIF medics in collaboration with their colleagues from Kitui county government’s Ministry of Health and Sanitation are set to offer the free needed health services to the county residents for the next three days with the excise aimed at creating awareness to the residents about the importance of Medical Insurance Cover.
The national insurance fund awareness drive is being held at the Kitui town Bus park and the choice of their venue targets to reach out to many of residents, without the town and those traveling other parts of the county.
The three days long awareness drive and recruitment of the new members for the health insurance fund kicked off today and is set to end on Friday 16th June.
Kitui county Director of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Dr David Silu while speaking during the launch of the three days long excise, said that his Ministry was partnering with the Health Insurance Fund to create awareness to the residents and mobilize them to enroll in large numbers with the insurance cover, and get benefit of health services once they require them
“We are here today at Kitui Bus Park, in partnership with the National Health Insurance Fund, encouraging our local residents to become members of NHIF and we are as well offering free health services,” Silu said.
“We are taking some lab tests for Blood pressure and Diabetes from those turning up for our free medical camp clinic need. Our county ministry for health and sanitation is collaborating with the NHIF to ensure that we reach out to many people to register with the Insurance Cover,” Silu added.
During the drive Wednesday, many residents were diagnosed and treated for diabetes and high blood pressure. The residents too have been aided in registering with the National Health Insurance Fund after they were educated on the importance of being insured.
The regional manager for NHIF, Jane Kosgei while addressing the residents during the launch affirmed that anyone subscribed to the National Health Insurance Fund is entitled to free medical treatment at any hospital across the country.
“In Kitui County, patients who are members of our health insurance cover have been accessing local health facilities using their NHIF cards and so far we haven’t recorded any single complaint from them for having denied free treatment,” she said.
The medics and guest speakers who spoke during the launch urged mothers to register with the Linda Mama Cover, noting the insurance cover offers free health services to mothers and their newborn, till the baby turns a year old.
The free medical camp organisers called on local residents to turn up in large numbers to benefit from the free health services and as well register themselves with the NHIF during the three days long exercise.
By Denson Mututo and Judy Musyoki
