Nandi County Commissioner Caroline Mueni has raised concerns over the slow uptake of the government’s Social Health Authority (SHA) registration adding that out of the 199,000 households targeted for registration in the county, only 55,000 have signed up so far.
Speaking during the rollout of the SHA registration exercise at Eliud Kipchoge Stadium in Kapsabet town, Mueni urged residents to prioritise their health by registering for the programme, which is critical for ensuring universal health coverage in the country.
“We are calling upon the people of Nandi to take this opportunity to register. This initiative is meant to ensure that everyone can access affordable and quality healthcare services,” she said, emphasising the need for more public engagement.
Nandi County Executive Committee (CEC) Member for Health, Ruth Koech, reiterated the County’s commitment to ensuring that no one is turned away from receiving healthcare during the transition to the SHA system.
“As a county, we are working hard to ensure that all our residents can access healthcare without any disruptions. It is important that everyone registers, as this will help us achieve our goal of delivering comprehensive health services to all,” Koech stated.
The SHA rollout exercise, which began earlier this year, aims to enroll all households into the national health insurance framework.
Local leaders and health officials have been mobilising efforts to create awareness about the programme, urging residents to take advantage of the registration points set up across the county.
The county leadership assured residents that the necessary infrastructure is in place to ensure the smooth running of the health programme, despite the slow initial registration response.
By Linet Wafula
