Health CS Aden Duale has expressed concern over low enrolment of Northeastern residents in the Social Health Insurance Fund.
Speaking in Wajir county, he expressed concern that figures from counties in the region remain significantly below national averages.
“As a region, we are not doing very well,” Duale said.
“Mandera is leading with 215,000 people registered followed by Wajir with 181,000, while Garissa where I come from is trailing with 161,000, and this is very sad.”
He was presiding over the 60th anniversary of Wajir Boys High School, hosted by the Wajir High School Alumni Association.
Duale said stakeholders should double their efforts to boost the enrolment.
The low enrolment in the pastoralist region has been attributed to the frequent movement in search of pasture and water, which means residents are not permanently settled in one place.
Other factors are low awareness and health literacy, where many residents, especially those in remote areas, are still not fully aware of the existence or benefits of the scheme.
Other causes are lack of IDs and Inadequate community-level sensitisation.
Duale called UHC a game changer in promoting equity, reducing poverty and fostering inclusive growth.
He said access to affordable, quality healthcare is a right for all, not a privilege for a few.
“UHC is not just a moral imperative, it’s a critical investment in the country’s health and economic future,” he said.
He also called on Kenyans who have not taken their children for the measles-rubella and typhoid conjugate vaccines to use the remaining days to do so.
He said so far, 3.5 million children have been vaccinated for measles against a target of 6.5 million.
Meanwhile, 12.1 million have been vaccinated for typhoid against a target of 19 million.
“I want to ask the people of kenya in the next 10 days, you will find our CHPs in all our health facilities both public and private. Please let us avail our children for vaccination,” Duale said.
Mandera Senator Ali Roba heaped praise on Duale, saying that since taking over, he has managed to streamline the ministry.
“Having been a governor and judging from what I have done for 10 years, I can attest that health management is not easy,” he said.
“In the few months you have been there, you are doing a wonderful job with the implementation of SHA, which is a game changer in this country.”
Present were MPs and women representatives from the region.
