Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata has promised to enlist all families with the National Health Insurance Fund.
Kang’ata said the county has more than 300, 000 homesteads but only about 40, 000 families are members of the NHIF.
“It’s unfortunate that Murang’a county with a population of more than a million people has less than 50 per cent of them under NHIF cover, yet there are challenges faced by families when they need to meet their medical expenses,” the governor said.
He said enlisting the locals with NHIF will greatly reduce anxiety over treatment expenses, which has been a big burden to some of the residents.
Kang’ata said he will work with the county assembly to formulate a policy to help set aside funds to register those who are not yet members with the NHIF.
“This move will help our people to get treatment under the insurance fund. It helps to minimise fundraising when one incurs huge medical bills,” he added.
Kang'ata spoke after he was sworn in as second governor of Murang’a.
He continued, “The money which will be paid to NHIF will still come back to our county as the incurred medical expenses by our hospital will be paid by the same NHIF.”
Health, Kang’ata said, is one of key responsibilities of the devolved administration, saying under his leadership the sector will be given much needed attention.
He took a swipe at the outgoing administration for what he termed as negligence of the health sector, saying most of the time public hospitals lacked drugs forcing the sick to buy prescribed medicine from private chemists.
“Proper management of our health facilities will reduce suffering of our people as the residents will be able to access drugs and better treatment in our hospitals,” he said.
Murang’a county has one Level 5 hospital and three subcounty hospitals including Muriranjas, Maragua Rural and Kangema.
Kang’ata highlighted plans to establish another Level 5 hospital in Murang’a South to cater for the subcounties of Maragua, Kandara, Gatanga and Ithanga.
“We will also strive to complete hospitals under construction including that of Kigumo, Kirwara and several health centres,” he added.
He called upon MCAs to have a cordial relationship with the county executive so as to ensure the devolved unit delivers better services to the people.
Kang’ata takes over from Mwangi wa Iria who served as Murang’a governor for two terms from 2013.
Edited by Henry Makori
