Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya on Tuesday issued an executive order, mandating all health facilities within the county to provide free medical services to Persons Living with Disabilities (PWDs).
Under the directive, hospitals are required to waive medical fees for all individuals lacking National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) and other Health Insurances.
This initiative represents a significant commitment by Governor Natembeya’s administration to ensure quality healthcare services are accessible to all county residents, with a particular focus on supporting and empowering PWDs.
The decision is set to alleviate the financial burden faced by disabled individuals, enabling them to access much-needed medical care without worrying about financial constraints.
Further, the move is expected to foster inclusivity and equality in healthcare provision across the county, ultimately resulting in improved well-being and overall quality of life for PWDs.
Inclusive healthcare system
Governor Natembeya’s executive order serves as a pivotal step towards building a more inclusive and compassionate healthcare system in the county.
Data from a 2021 report in survey funded by the UK Aid indicated that disability prevalence rate in Trans Nzoia County had reduced by 1.3% since the census in 2009.
While the 2019 census reported a disability prevalence rate at 2.0%, the 2009 census reported 3.3%.
Notably, the 2009 figures were widely disputed by United Disabled Persons of Kenya (UDPK), who argued that they significantly under-represented the total number of persons with disabilities.
Further, the report revealed that Trans Nzoia county had only one disability-inclusive budget line for the period under review, which is available in FY2018–19 and FY2020–21.
“This budget line is titled ‘Kwanza rehabilitation centre’ and was allocated KES 5.0 million in each of those two FYs,” read part of the report.
“The annual share of the disability budget in annual county budgets remained at a constant 0.1% in the two years with disability-inclusive budget lines,” it added.
