- Authorities are now pushing police and the prisons staff to be vaccinated against the disease
- The group is among the most hit by the pandemic
Image: CHARLENE MALWA
The police and prisons medical cover will now cater for Covid-19 complications costs.
An internal communication in the departments said the National Police Service and Kenya Prisons Service comprehensive medical insurance cover will now cater for costs accrued from the pandemic complications.
These will include testing and treatment of the disease in facilities accredited by the National Hospital Insurance Fund.
“This is to inform you that the cover caters for the cost of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) testing and treatment incurred in facilities accredited by the NHIF,” read part of a memo sent to commanders in the NPS.
“Please bring this to the attention of all officers under you and assure them of the government's commitment to offer comprehensive medical care for them and their eligible family members.”
Authorities are now pushing police and the prisons staff to be vaccinated against the disease.
This is part of efforts to ensure the virus does not affect the covered 131,816 officers and their family members are safe.
As at Wednesday, some 66,054 security officers had been fully vaccinated which is way below the targeted 100 per cent of the group.
The group is among the most hit by the pandemic and paying the bills accrued from the same has been an uphill task.
Officials say about one per cent of the members of the service have been affected by the pandemic so far.
So far, about three per cent of Kenya’s population has been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 as the government focused on lowering the age bracket of citizens eligible to receive the jab during the second phase slated for September.
The Ministry of Health plans to inoculate 80,000 people daily in September, up from the current daily average of 75,000. The overall target was to vaccinate 150,000 people daily by December.
NHIF and the Ministry of Interior in December 2020 signed an enhanced medical insurance cover to enable the eligible members enjoy the services.
The deal was signed by Interior and Citizen Services PS Karanja Kibicho and his Correctional Services counterpart Zainab Hussein.
“We’ve had challenges in providing our officers with these services, and that is why we decided to engage NHIF to protect them just like the other civil servants,” Kibicho said then.
The PS said the move is part of the government’s efforts to institutionalise a welfare and protection programme for the 131,816 officers who have to contend with life-changing situations in the course of duty.
The PS said the ultimate goal is to harmonise insurance policy benefits for officers and civil servants, and tailor them to address the vulnerabilities of the families of those who die in the line of duty.
NHIF will also offer improved work injury benefits, as the government seeks to implement these gains at a policy level and in line with relevant legislation.
This was with a view to addressing the escalating claims of unpaid life insurance and annuity benefits to service members or their designated beneficiaries.
According to the PS, the ultimate goal is to harmonise the insurance policy benefits of the officers with those of other civil servants and tailor them to address the vulnerabilities of the surviving families of those who lose their lives in line of duty.
The features of the new enhanced cover for both services include inpatient, outpatient, dental, optical and other specialised medical services, annual medical check-ups for member and spouse, road ambulance, air and sea evacuation, overseas treatment and last expense.
Scheme beneficiaries can be treated in any health care provider recognised by NHIF.
To further cushion the officers, the state will launch a trust fund for the welfare of the families of police officers killed on duty.
Interior Cabinet secretary Fred Matiang’i said the move is part of the President’s desire to accord genuine recognition and appreciation to the honourable services and selfless sacrifices of police officers.
Speaking during a memorial service for fallen police officers at the National Police Service Training College in Nairobi then, Matiang’i, said the trust fund will be unveiled to help the officers.
-Edited by SKanyara