At least 326,000 vulnerable residents of Nairobi are set to benefit from the national medical insurance system.
The target population, according to Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) Health Services Director Ouma Oluga, consists of the most vulnerable residents, and 66,000 families have already benefited from the services.
Under the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), each household receives Sh6,000 per year.
“We are providing this service under the government’s Universal Health Care policy. NMS has identified, registered and qualified over 326,000 vulnerable people for NHIF,” Oluga said.
In the first phase, the goal is to reach 20 per cent of Nairobi’s poor households, utilising a method created by the Ministry of Health to identify beneficiaries.
Nairobi county’s population is estimated to be 1.5 million households, with a total person population of 4.3 million, in the 2019 census, while the precise number of impoverished homes is unknown.
“Once we cover that population, the rest of the people are either working and can afford healthcare or have employers who can pay for the cover,” Oluga said.
He stated that the agency, directed by Lt-Gen Mohamed Badi, is dedicated to providing high-quality, low-cost healthcare to all inhabitants.
Oluga further mentioned the building of 28 hospitals and the restoration of four health centres, 15 of which have been finished and commissioned by President Uhuru Kenyatta.
The hospitals erected in informal settlements are aimed at a population of 3.1 million people, a majority of whom are reliant on Kenyatta National Hospital, alleviating burden on the national referral centre.
Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital, which serves a 2.1 million-strong catchment area, has also been upgraded from Level Four to Level Five.
It has continued to provide integrated healthcare to Eastlands inhabitants since its refurbishment, this is according to Dr Oluga.
In February, the hospital’s maternity division witnessed 110 successful deliveries, he added. “At the facility, the Linda Mama Programme, a free health insurance cover for pregnant moms, is available.”
“NMS is refurbishing Mihang’o Community and Baba Dogo dispensaries to improve access to health services at the ward level,” Oluga said.
According to him, this will result in the health institutions receiving additional medical equipment and personnel, allowing them to improve services and expand on their capacity.