By Abdimalik Hajir
GARISSA– Health Cabinet secretary Aden Duale has dismissed claims that Social Health Authority is not working saying there are practical evidence it’s working for Kenyans.
Speaking at Police training college in Garissa Township, the CS said so far over 23.6million Kenyans have already registered on SHA noting that the government is determined to ensure that no Kenyan is left behind.
“There is all practical evidence that universal health coverage and Social Health Authority is working, we want to cover 100percent of Kenyan population, NHIF was only covering salaried people who were only 20percent of the population,” he said.
The Ministry, in collaboration with the Garissa County Government, distributed 1,011 tablets for use in public health facilities across seven sub-counties under the national digitization programme.
This digital rollout, Duale said, will empower health frontline workers and ensure accountability, transparency, and service excellence across the healthcare system.
The CS while enumerating the benefits of registering SHA, urged locals in Garissa to register enmass noting that it pays for mothers’ delivery, pays ICU services sh28000 per night adding that cancer patients will benefit sh550,000 per year.
The CS asked the county commissioner to ensure Chiefs have targets for the registration of the program.
Duale was accompanied by SHA CEO Dr. Mercy Mwangangi, Eng. Anthony Lenaiyara, Acting CEO of the Digital Health Agency (DHA), Deputy Inspector General of Police Gilbert Masengeli and other officials.
They also witnessed the formal digitization of Garissa’s public health facilities under the Taifa Care program alongside the rollout of SHA activities aimed at expanding access to health protection through a public engagement campaign.
SHA CEO Dr. Mercy Mwangangi said SHA is designed to ensure that every Kenyan, regardless of where they live or how much they earn, can access healthcare without financial hardship.
“Our work in Garissa today reflects our commitment to an equitable health system, and we remain focused on reaching every community.” She said.
This she noted strengthened the Ministry’s Digital Health Transformation Agenda, which aimed to create an interconnected health system where patient information flows securely across all levels of care.
Leaders including Garissa Governor Nathif Jama, Mps Dekow Mohamed (Garissa Township), Abdi Ali Abdi (Ijara), Salah Yakub (Fafi) and Nominated Mp Umulkheir Harun were in attendance.
Mps took issue with slow pace Garissa County being registering the program appealing residents to register SHA for their own health benefits.
“We are asking the governor to hold a health caravan that goes to sub-counties, and we are ready to support that to ensure that our people benefit from the Universal health coverage,” said Salah Yakub, Fafi member of parliament.
On his part Garissa Governor Nathif Jama Adam hailed the initiative saying it’s a game changer noting that integration into the national digital system means more coordinated, efficient services, driven by data.
