- The programme was an initiative that afforded expectant mothers access to free delivery services.
- It was part of enhanced National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).
Image: MINISTRY OF HEALTH/X
The government now says plans are underway to bring back the Linda Mama programme.
The programme was an initiative that afforded expectant mothers access to free delivery services.
It was part of enhanced National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).
Public Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni revealed that the maternal healthcare programme will be incorporated into Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) once it's rolled out.
The High court on July 12 decalred SHIF unconstitutional citing among other reasons, a lack of public participation in coming up with the new healthcare programme.
A three-judge bench also said there were disparities in the new Social Health Insurance Act since it would burden a few salaried individuals by creating a disparity in the contributions.
But Muthoni said the government was committing Sh2 billion to enhance the Linda Mama programme.
“I want to confirm that it is coming back bigger and better. We are a listening government, we are a listening ministry. We do public participation and when people tell us this is what they want, then it is packaged together,” Muthoni said on Tuesday.
“It is the Social Health Authority that will decide which funds go to Linda Mama and what goes to Social Health Insurance Fund. NHIF is extended until when SHIF is going to roll out,” she added.
Kenya introduced the free maternity policy in all public healthcare facilities in 2013.
In 2016, the Ministry of Health shifted responsibility for the programme dubbed Linda Mama to the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) and expanded access beyond public sector.
The Linda Mama Programme seeks to help Kenya meet Social Development Goal Target 3.1 which seeks to reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births and Target 3.2 which seeks to reduce neonatal mortality to at least as low as 12 per 1,000 live births in all countries, among other targets.