- She urged all citizens to support this transformation, which aims to ensure inclusive access to healthcare across the country.
- She spoke at the opening of the newly renamed Mama Rachel Maternity Hospital in Eldoret, formerly known as West Maternity Hospital.
Image: MATHEWS NDANYI
First Lady Rachel Ruto has said the rollout of the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) will significantly enhance healthcare services for Kenyans.
She urged all citizens to support this transformation, which aims to ensure inclusive access to healthcare across the country.
Speaking on the initiative, she highlighted the challenges faced on the journey to achieving improved healthcare.
She praised the Kenya Kwanza administration, led by President William Ruto, for its dedication to fully transforming the health sector, despite the considerable time and financial investments required.
The First Lady emphasized that the upcoming health sector reforms will include the necessary digitisation of services, facilitating easier access for Kenyans.
“Kenyans desire to have healthcare as the most valued public service. We must all work towards ensuring better and accessible medical services throughout the country,” she stated.
She added that SHIF will effectively address many of the current healthcare challenges.
The First Lady described healthcare as a critical component of the Kenya Kwanza bottom-up approach to national development. She commended Uasin Gishu County for pioneering the use of drones to enhance healthcare delivery.
These drones will transport blood samples from remote hospitals to Eldoret, improving diagnostic services. She also praised the county for allocating 30% of its budget to healthcare.
She spoke at the opening of the newly renamed Mama Rachel Maternity Hospital in Eldoret, formerly known as West Maternity Hospital.
She expressed her gratitude to Uasin Gishu County for honouring her by renaming the hospital.
The First Lady noted a survey indicating that 14 per cent of Uasin Gishu residents cannot reach a hospital within an hour, underscoring the need for improved healthcare facilities.
She pledged to support the Maternity Hospital with a one-year supply of diapers for new mothers.
Principal Secretary for Public Health, Mary Muthoni, also attended the event.
She reiterated that healthcare is a key pillar in the Kenya Kwanza administration’s strategy and praised the First Lady for her advocacy for women's healthcare.
PS Muthoni confirmed that the government and counties are committed to digitizing health facilities to improve access to specialised care.
She assured Kenyans that the transition from the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) to SHIF is progressing as planned and will ensure that all citizens can access healthcare without financial barriers.
Muthoni also acknowledged the efforts of healthcare promoters nationwide in improving the health of Kenyans.
Governor Jonathan Bii of Uasin Gishu County mentioned that the French government has donated state-of-the-art equipment worth over KSh 1 billion to the Mama Rachel Maternity Hospital.
The hospital, with a capacity of 70 beds, will provide curative, maternal, and child healthcare services, contributing to the reduction of maternal deaths in the region.
Bii highlighted the need for additional funding to complete pending healthcare facilities initiated with the advent of devolution. He noted the county's commitment to embracing technology, including the use of drones for transporting samples from rural health facilities.
“We are on track to ensure specialised services are offered at most of our 138 hospitals, enhancing healthcare for Uasin Gishu residents,” he stated.
Bii also expressed support for President William Ruto’s advocacy for Universal Health Care.