Parents in Gatundu North, Kiambu County can now have a sigh of relief after the newly opened Huduma Centre began Social Health Authority (SHA) registration in schools.
The initiative is a joint effort between the office of area MP Elijah Njoroge Kururia and the Huduma centre, situated at Kamwangi, aimed at ensuring all learners are registered under the new healthcare scheme.
President William Ruto in December last year asked parents to accompany their children and register them under the Taifa Care health programme once the schools reopen.
The Head of State said that the move aimed at providing universal healthcare access is part of a broader push to ensure that every student in the country is covered under the national healthcare scheme.
Speaking at Karuri Primary School on Thursday, January 9 while overseeing registration of both parents and leaners in the new healthcare programme, Kururia said that it is imperative to have all learners insured by SHA so as to relieve parents of the burden of catering for their children’s healthcare.
The lawmaker noted with concern that most locals in the region are yet to register for the programme citing lack of proper civic education and access to government services.
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“We have decided to take the services closer to our people so that they can be registered and ensure that their kids’ healthcare is safe under SHA. We are also grateful for the Huduma centre where our people will easily access crucial government services,” Kururia said.
Kururia noted that the government is keen to have all students registered under the new healthcare scheme to ensure that they gain access to healthcare services.
Parents led by Peter Kariuki, David Mungai and Peris Kanana hailed the initiative as life changing noting that most of them had little or no information on SHA registration and the benefits they are set to enjoy.
Humble backgrounds
Kariuki said that most parents and especially those from humble backgrounds have no access to mobile devices that can enable them register for the services adding that taking the services to their doorstep will save them from the agony spending huge amounts of money to facilitate access to healthcare services.
“I’m glad I’ve registered and ensured that my two children are covered by the national healthcare scheme. I’ve realised it’s important to register and be on the safe side. We have witnessed families struggling with huge medical bills which can be taken care of by SHA,” Kariuki.
Mungai, a community health promoter, rallied parents in the region to ensure that they are covered by the new scheme to avoid struggles with hospital bills.
“Those who are still reluctant to register should realise that there’s no other national healthcare programme other than the Taifa Care and they should ensure their families are covered,” Mungai said.
The initiative is set to be taken to all schools within the constituency.
By Kamau Njoroge
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