Official rollout of Social Health Authority registration in Tharaka-Nithi County
By Mwenda Njeru
The Ministry of Health in collaboration with county governments yesterday officially launched registration into Social Health Authority (SHA).
The exercise took place in few counties among them Tharaka-Nithi County led by Deputy Governor Nyaga Muisrael, County Commissioner Mr David Gitonga and SHA national legal director Ms Catherine Mungania.
Speaking during the ceremony which was also attended Tharaka-Nithi County Assembly Speaker John Mbabu and Karingani ward representative Mt Godfrey Murithi, Mr Muisrael who represented his boss, Governor Muthomi Njuki said with SHA, it will be possible for government to implement Universal Healthcare which is one of the Kenya Kwanza government agenda.
“Through the SHA,we have a unique opportunity to enhance provision of integrated essential services through facilities under this innovative health care model that has been tried, tested and found worthy of adoption,” said Muisrael.
He said it is a strategic choice which will deliver more benefits to more Kenyans through strengthening service delivery in the level two and three facilities.
He noted that through SHA,addressing emergency responses will be faster and more effective.
Mr Muisrael said the county government will continue supporting SHA by ensuring that health facilities offer holistic primary healthcare.
He said the county health department will also provide routine services such as chronic and critical illness management to registered beneficiaries and their dependants.
He said many Kenyans have questioned the need for the new healthcare model at national and county government levels and the truth is that the benefits to the people outweigh the costs, since health is a cross-cutting issue impacting education, agriculture and trade.
“Healthcare is for us all, members of the vulnerable population are eligible for SHA just as they were under NHIF but better,” he said.
He said the devolved government will continue serving the people through the new and innovative approach which grants more access to more Kenyans.
“I call upon each of us to actively support the Ministry of Health during implementation of SHA, which will contribute to socio economic development of county governments and become strong,” he said.
Mr Gitonga said the Constitution 2010 states that every Kenyan has right to quality healthcare and that SHA comes to implement the law.
He noted that the most encouraging element of SHA is that even the poorest in the community will access healthcare services and that government will ensure that they are registered.
He however warned that financially able people should not be captured as poor which is the main challenge with education bursaries where rich people benefit instead of the deserving ones.
“About 9000 residents of Tharaka-Nithi County have registered to SHA so far and the target is 400,000 which we hope to achieve,” said Mr Gitonga.
Mr Mbabu asked and Murithi assured locals that county assembly will continue supporting health programs and urged national government to facilitate well Community Health Promoters and National Government Administrators officers sensitising and registered people.
“The CHPs and NGAO officers are undertaking a critical role of registering the people and needs to be well facilitated,” said Mbabu.
Tharaka-Nithi County Assembly Health Committee Chairperson and Muthambi ward representative Morris Maugu faulted people who are moving to court to block implementation of SHA noting that such moves would stop government from implementing its development agenda.
Ms Mungania said rolling out of SHA will continue despite the court issues and urged Kenyans to register in large numbers.
“This programme will greatly improve provision of healthcare services,” said Ms Mungania.
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