Health Cabinet Secretary Nakhumicha S. Wafula last week presided over a Social Health Authority (SHA) digital registration test run in Marsabit County.
She witnessed the event alongside the World Blood Donor Day celebrations at Marsabit KMTC grounds.
The event comes ahead of a mass registration drive across all 47 counties.
Speaking at the event, the CS urged Kenyans to register under the new SHA scheme, aimed at achieving Universal Health Coverage.
She highlighted the upcoming transition from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to SHA, set to start on July 1, 2024, and encouraged locals to support the government’s healthcare reforms.
Kenyans can register via the SHA website, public hospitals, or through 107,000 Community Health Promoters.
Has Linda Mama been scrapped?
The CS further emphasized that the Linda Mama program remains in place under SHA, extending coverage to households and school-going children.
“Linda Mama has not been scrapped off. It was one of the vertical programs under NHIF. Now, the Social Health Authority (SHA) covers entire households, ensuring that all mothers continue to access maternity services offered under the Linda Mama program,” the CS had earlier told National Parliament Health Committee.
“Additionally, coverage now extends to school-going children, who were previously beneficiaries of EduAfya,” she added.
She also responded positively to Marsabit Governor Mohamud Ali’s request for Clinical Medicine and Nursing courses at the local Kenya Medical Training College, with assessments to begin in September.
Meanwhile, CS Nakhumicha appealed to county governments to settle their debts to the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA).
The debt, according to the Ministry of Health currently amounts to over Ksh 2.8 billion.
“Payment of the debts will enable KEMSA to concentrate on key performance indicators, such as achieving optimum order fill rates and a turnaround time of less than seven days, ensuring timely and efficient delivery of health commodities nationwide,” the CS said.
