The Murang’a County Government is prioritizing people with disabilities in registering new members of its expanded medical scheme, dubbed Kang’ata Care.
The scheme, which is a partnership between the county government and the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), provides free medical services to residents of the county.
The Kang’ata Care programme was established in the last financial year and currently benefits 20, 000 vulnerable households.
The expanded medical cover offered by the NHIF enables the beneficiaries to also access optical and dental services.
Kang’ata Care medical scheme also caters to the last expense account for the family members who are included in the health insurance coverage.
In the last financial year, the county government of Murang’a allocated Sh162 million for the implementation of the scheme, with Sh80 million now allocated in the current budget to beef up the number of beneficiaries.
The exercise taking place in all public primary schools in the county targets recruiting 17, 000 new members.
Speaking when he oversaw the recruitment exercise in various areas, deputy governor Stephen Munania commended the impact of the scheme saying for the last year since the establishment of the cover, poor families have been receiving free medical treatment.
He noted that the current county administration is committed to supporting health care for the residents of Murang’a.
“The recruitment is being done in all public primary schools, and in every primary school, 28 households will be registered and included in the medical scheme,” Munania said.
Munania further said, “Affordable medical cover was a campaign promise to the people of Murang’a and the county administration will keep on expanding the provision of health services to the locals and especially those suffering from terminal illnesses.”
The deputy governor said many residents have not been able to pay NHIF premiums owing to the high cost of living, forcing the county government to step in to cushion them.
He noted that the medical scheme has been very supportive to many families since one NHIF policy covers members of a nuclear family.
A section of residents claimed that they have been unable to pay for NHIF services due to the high cost of living, saying the card by the County government has been very supportive, especially to individuals in poor households.
SOURCE: KNA