President William Ruto has disclosed that the ongoing registration of Kenyans into the new Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) is almost hitting a million.
The exercise, launched July 1, is done through self-registration USSD code *147#.
It is also conducted through the website http://sha.go.ke, with the assistance of Community Health Promoters or by visiting NHIF offices and other designated registration points.
Speaking during the commissioning of Marimanti Huduma center in Tharaka Nithi, Ruto said they are targeting to register 15 million Kenyans.
“We want to register everyone so that we can plan their health delivery mechanism and ensure that we know the number of citizens, their medical condition and what we need to do about their health so that those who are unable to pay the government can provide for their insurance and pay for them,” he said.
“That program is ongoing now, we have almost a million people and we are aiming at registering 15 million.”
The program is part of the government's plan to realise the Universal Health Coverage which is one of the key programmes in the Kenya Kwanza manifesto.
It is aimed at ensuring that all Kenyans access free quality health services, including for critical illnesses such as cancer.
Earlier on, Ruto commissioned Kibung’a Kakimiki water project in the county and Marimanti Kenya Medical Training College.
At the college, he announced that the government would allocate Sh30 million for equipment and also ensure that the hostels are put up as part of the ongoing affordable housing program.
He was accompanied by his deputy Rigathi Gachagua, Interior cabinet secretary nominee Kindiki Kithure, Governor Muthomi Njuki and Senator George Murugara among several others.
