EduAfya that was initiated in the previous political dispensation will be discontinued in the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) that has replaced the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).
EduAfya was former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s initiative which targeted to offer a health insurance to secondary school children.
Administered through the Ministry of Education, it is part of the Free Day Secondary Education programme covering premiums for learners in public secondary schools, granting access to diverse medical services that include treatment overseas.
Under the EduAfya medical scheme, NHIF received Ksh9.5 billion from the government over four years (2019-2022) with a premium of Ksh1,350 per student per year.
Informing this new development was NHIF CEO Elijah Wachira, who yesterday conveyed to the National Assembly Petitions Committee that all service provider contracts under EduAfya would be terminated by December 31.
This decision puts over 3.4 million learners at risk of losing their medical cover.
Wachira informed MPs that NHIF would conclude all contracts with the Ministry of Education (MoE) by the year-end, necessitating the search for a new service provider by both the ministries of Health and Education, as NHIF would cease to exist.
Appearing before the committee, Wachira addressed a petition by Joyce Cherono, a parent who sought parliamentary intervention due to the programme’s poor implementation.
The petitioner cited low uptake attributed to inadequate communication, awareness, and guidelines from NHIF.
This comprehensive medical insurance cover extends to students in public secondary schools registered under the National Education Management Information System (NEMIS).
To access services, students need to present an NHIF membership card or a school-endorsed letter.
The programme encompassed outpatient and inpatient services, day surgical services, local road ambulance, and emergency air rescue services.
The revelation by NHIF about the impending termination of EduAfya contracts raises concerns about the continuity of medical cover for students.
By Viola Chepkemoi
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