Reprieve for poor households as Murang'a launches 'Kang'ata Care'

The Murang'a government has paid Sh170 million to the National Health Insurance Fund to insure 20,000 poor households for one year.

This follows a deal entered between the devolved unit and NHIF that will ensure needy people access quality healthcare in local facilities.

The cover will provide free inpatient and outpatient services and has been modified to cater to dental and optical services.

Beneficiaries will also get 'last expense' insurance that will provide Sh50,000 to their families if their parents die or Sh100,000 if they lose a member of their nuclear family.

This will reduce the need for disadvantaged families to conduct fundraising every time a relative falls sick or for burials.

With a weakened economy, fundraising has become the order of the day as more family members fall sick, with some families going to the extent of selling property to clear hospital bills.

Others are forced to terminally live with chronic illnesses without seeking medication due to financial constraints.

This became evident during campaigns as huge numbers of patients turned up during free medical camps organised by politicians.

Some of the camps went to the extent of providing cervical cancer screening services after encountering many patients that were oblivious to their status as they had not been previously screened.

Most politicians pledged to ensure health facilities have sufficient drugs and health services are enhanced.

During the launch of the NHIF programme called 'Kang'ata Care' at Kigumo Health Centre, Mercy Wanjiru, a patient who had gone to the facility seeking treatment, said the programme will be a reprieve for many poor families.

She said she is 65 years old and takes care of her three grandchildren whose mother is in Nairobi seeking employment.

"My daughter left for Nairobi years ago to look for a job but she is unable to send money consistently," Wanjiru said.

She said with her age, she is unable to fully support the children as she suffers from arthritis.

Wanjiru is one of the people the programme targets, according to Governor Irungu Kang'ata.

Kang'ata said the programme will prioritise poor families headed by single parents, orphaned children, grandparents taking care of grandchildren and families with people with disabilities.

The governor said the programme will benefit 33 families from each of the 600 polling centres in the county. He said each of the 294 sublocations will have a five-member committee to vet beneficiaries.

The committees will constitute two representatives from the county government, a representative from the local health facility, the assistant chief and a church representative.

Health executive Fredrick Mbugua said the county has a special interest in people over 60 years who take care of their grandchildren.

Beneficiaries are expected to collect registration forms from their assistant chiefs by November 15, while vetting is expected to be completed by November 23.

"We have confidence that the committees will come up with a qualified list and afterwards, NHIF will take over the process".

Kigumo MCA Caroline Njoroge confirmed that numerous fundraisings are held every weekend to help clear hospital bills in the ward.

Edited by A.N