A growing number of teenage mothers in Baringo County are unable to access critical healthcare services under the Social Health Authority (SHA) due to the lack of identification documents required for registration, raising concern among health and education stakeholders.
Health officials warn that the situation has left many adolescent mothers vulnerable at a time when teenage pregnancies and school dropouts continue to rise across the county.
Education stakeholders have also expressed concern over the increasing number of girls abandoning school after becoming pregnant, calling for urgent interventions to curb teenage pregnancies and support affected learners to resume their education.
Speaking during a County Service Delivery Committee meeting chaired by outgoing County Commissioner Stephen Kutwa, County SHA official Robert Malel said the absence of national identity cards among teenage mothers remains one of the biggest barriers to accessing maternal and child healthcare services.
According to Malel, most of the affected girls are minors who dropped out of school after becoming pregnant, making them ineligible to obtain national identity cards required for SHA registration.
“The lack of identification documents has remained one of the biggest challenges affecting teenage mothers seeking SHA services. Many of them are unable to register and access healthcare support because they do not possess ID cards,” said Malel.
ALSO READ:
TSC appoints Sharon J. Kisire as new vice commission chairperson
He noted that the challenge has prevented many adolescent mothers from fully benefiting from government healthcare programmes despite their urgent need for maternal and child health services.
To address the crisis, Malel said the Social Health Authority had directed health facilities to issue temporary identification documents to teenage mothers to ensure they are not locked out of healthcare services.
The temporary IDs, he explained, will allow the young mothers to access essential SHA services while they work toward obtaining official national identity cards.
“We have been directed to issue temporary IDs at the facility level so that these young mothers can continue benefiting from important healthcare services as they regularize their documents,” he added.
Malel said the temporary documents would remain valid for one year, after which beneficiaries would be expected to acquire national identity cards and register independently under SHA.
He further revealed that during the interim period, the adolescent mothers would be removed from their parents’ medical covers where they are currently listed as dependents.
Stakeholders at the meeting emphasized the need for stronger collaboration among parents, schools, religious leaders and government agencies to address the rising cases of teenage pregnancies and ensure affected girls are supported to return to school.
They warned that failure to act urgently could deny a generation of young girls access to education and future opportunities due to early pregnancies.
Malel also disclosed that SHA registration in Baringo County currently stands at 53.1 percent, placing the county 24th nationally. Neighboring Elgeyo Marakwet County has achieved a higher registration rate of 71.7 percent.
Despite the low enrollment, he said SHA officials were intensifying public sensitization campaigns and outreach programmes to encourage more residents to register and access affordable healthcare services.
ALSO READ:
Government to fully shift to digital exams to cut on operational costs
“As SHA, we are doing everything possible to reach those who have not yet enrolled because our goal is to ensure every resident accesses affordable healthcare services,” he said.
The meeting also marked the farewell of outgoing County Commissioner Stephen Kutwa, who is set to assume a similar role in Lamu County following recent transfers and promotions by the Ministry of Interior.
Kutwa thanked departmental heads and national government officers for their cooperation during his three-year tenure in Baringo.
“I want to thank all departmental heads and officers for the cooperation and support you have given me during my service in this county. The teamwork has greatly contributed to effective service delivery,” he said.
He encouraged public servants to embrace transfers positively, saying they help officers gain broader experience and strengthen national cohesion.
“Transfers should not be viewed negatively because they expose officers to different working environments and strengthen service delivery while also enhancing national unity,” he said.
The revelations have once again highlighted the healthcare and social challenges facing teenage mothers in rural areas as the government continues implementing reforms aimed at achieving universal health coverage through the Social Health Authority.
By Kimutai Langat
You can also follow our social media pages on Twitter: Education News KE and Facebook: Education News Newspaper for timely updates.
>>> Click here to stay up-to-date with trending regional stories
>>> Click here to read more informed opinions on the country’s education landscape
