Kericho residents urged to register for SHA to access all-inclusive health services

Dominic Cheres and Kibe Mburu-KNA

Kericho County residents have been urged to continue registering for the Social Health Authority (SHA) to ensure they access a comprehensive range of quality health service.

Speaking during the official mass roll-out of SHA/SHIF in Kericho County, Deputy Government Spokesperson Mwanaisha Chidzuga lauded residents heeding the call to register for health insurance, saying they would benefit from preventive, promotive, curative, rehabilitative, and palliative health services, provided at levels 4, 5, and 6 health facilities, under the Fund.

The Deputy Spokesperson further explained to the residents that the benefits of SHA include emergency services, critical care services beyond the benefits in the essential healthcare benefits package, treatment, and management of chronic illnesses.

“Everyone can apply for registration to the Authority as a member of the Social Health Authority and it is simple, just dial *147# and follow the prompts to register,” Chidzuga said.

She noted that misinformation and propaganda had slowed down a smooth registration of more Kenyans into the new national Social Health Authority (SHA) in the country.

She instead urged citizens to ignore the misinformation and negative propaganda and register for the new health cover.

The Deputy Government Spokesperson who was flanked by Kericho Governor Dr Erick Mutai and County Commissioner, Mr Gilbert Kitiyo, said the new Social Health Authority will address the myriad challenges wananchi face as they access affordable and reliable health services in government health facilities and some private health hospitals that are registered with SHA.

Meanwhile, the Kericho Governor who was the guest at the function held at Uhuru Gardens said that Kericho targets to register over 900,000 individuals to the SHA.

Dr. Mutai further revealed that all 164 county facilities, six (6) faith-based hospitals, and 12 private facilities had been registered with SHA and ready to deliver health services to patients in the county.

Kericho County Referral Hospital has received Sh18 million, while Kapkatet Hospital has received Sh14 million from SHA, he said, adding that SHA is working in facilities in Kericho, and urged residents to continue registering to benefit.

The Governor also assured residents that his administration is in the process of confirming healthcare workers on permanent and pensionable basis and will embark on employing an additional 210 healthcare workers including nurses and clinicians who will be serving at the dispensaries.

This would decongest the sub-county hospitals and the Level 5 hospital.

“The county government already has Sh35 million to pay all the arrears for the Community Health Promoters (CHPs) so that they continue with their good work, and we believe they will also be very instrumental in the success of SHA,” Dr. Mutai added.

Kericho County Commissioner (CC), Mr. Gilbert Kitiyo urged Chiefs and Assistant Chiefs to be in the frontline, providing the correct information to the residents about SHA and SHIF and encouraged them to register and enjoy the benefits.

Mr Kitiyo expressed dissatisfaction over the misinformation being peddled by some individuals using social media, to the effect that the national government had done little in development in the country.

The CC enumerated various projects implemented by the national government, running into billions of shillings in the county.

Mr Kitiyo said four major markets under Economic Stimulus Project (ESP), that are at various stages of completion including the Kapkatet market, Sosiot market, Chesinende Market and Lelu market in Kipkelion West.

The administrator said under the Affordable Housing Project (AHP) the national government is constructing over 1,000 units at Majengo Tallai in Kericho town, and Kapsuser-Sosiot-Sondu tarmac road project at the cost of Sh905 million, Kimugu Water Project at the cost of over Sh1 billion to serve Kericho Town, Kapsuser area and Kapsoit and the neighbouring market centres.