Kiambu County will pay for the medical cover for the less privileged who will now join the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) scheme.
The devolved unit is targeting about one million people to be included in this programme, according to Governor Kimani Wamatangi who has set aside Sh100 million for the exercise.
Additionally, Wamatangi's administration will spend another Sh60 million on drugs to be supplied to all health facilities in the county.
Speaking during the launch of the registration exercise for the NHIF scheme, Wamatangi said Universal Health Coverage embodies the right of all people to quality, accessible, affordable and available health services.
"This mass registration exercise seeks to provide affordable, accessible and sustainable medical cover to all residents in the county. This will also ensure that all people access the needed health services of sufficient quality and experience financial risk protection," he explained.
Wamatangi noted that despite the progress made in health provision, many vulnerable groups and marginalised populations lack access to lifesaving health services and registration to the NHIF medical scheme will lessen their pain.
Susan Njoki, 56, a resident lauded the health scheme saying it's a big boost to the poor. "I was once forced to do a harambee to offset a hospital bill that had accumulated to Sh100,000 because I was not in any health scheme."
According to Njoki, if the poor could get a health scheme, then the burden that comes with hefty hospital bills would be lessened and the numerous harambees would end.
