Trans Nzoia County Launches Enhanced NHIF Cover for Vulnerable Households

Governor George Natembeya on Friday in Sikhendu launched an enhanced NHIF cover program for vulnerable households in the county. The program will provide free out and inpatient services in public hospitals to at least 10,000 listed vulnerable households.

The program is funded by the county government through the 90 Kilograms of maize for each house initiative. The governor stated that the 10,000 families listed in the Natecare system will not only receive free medical treatment, but will also have access to all medical services.

The enhanced cover, whose amount is expected to rise to about Sh.40 million, is aimed to help those vulnerable families that are not able to raise a bag of maize due to poverty. With the scheme, the selected households will be able to access free medical services from local hospitals.

Governor Natembeya said the program is meant to uplift the lives of the poor whose long search for affordable healthcare had been neglected by successive administrations.

The governor also reiterated his call for more households to benefit from the health insurance cover. He noted that the NHIF cover will alleviate the burden on locals who often have to sell everything they own to have their loved ones treated.

The governor also announced that the 2,240 County Health Promoters hired by his administration will continue to offer primary care services at the grassroots. He added that the community health volunteers will help in implementing the enhanced health cover and promoting primary health care at the grassroots.

Governor Natembeya noted that managing sickness is expensive and thus the cover will go a long way in ensuring the poor get better health services.

He also vowed to ensure local public hospitals are stocked with drugs among other necessities to effectively implement the enhanced health cover program