Health CAS Mercy Mwangangi on Friday, September 11, disclosed that the government would pay for 20,000 families to access health care under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) program.
Speaking in Machakos, the CAS stated that poor households in the county would be provided with free NHIF coverage as government rolled out the new health project.
She further outlined benefits of signing up for NHIF, urging those able to pay to do so.
"The beneficiaries will get numerous benefits which include routine clinical services, free cancer screening, HPV vaccines, child health and vaccines, free obstetrics and gynaecological care, surgical and trauma care among many others," she explained.
CAS Mwangangi further noted that there had been an increase in gender-based violence (GBV) since the Covid-19 pandemic began as she asked security forces to ensure all perpetrators are brought to book.
She pledged to build a safe house for Victims of GBV in Machakos through partnerships with various stakeholders.
During the 2020/2021 budget allocation, the Health Ministry received Ksh111.7 billion, Ksh50 billion of which will be used to finance the government's Universal Health Coverage (UHC) pillar under President Uhuru Kenyatta's Big Four Agenda.
The Ministry was allocated Ksh 1.2 billion for recruitment of health workers. Ksh 500 million to supply local beds to hospitals and Ksh25 billion for modern walk through sanitizers.
The UHC is meant to ensure all Kenyans have access to preventive, promotive, curative, rehabilitative and palliative health services at minimum financial burden.
Machakos, Kisumu, Nyeri and Isiolo counties were among counties identified by the Ministry of Health in the pilot phase.
In December 2019, then Health CS Sicily Kariuki stated that the roll-out of the programme had created demand for health services in the country.
