The Murang’a County Government is constructing new health centers and dispensaries in rural areas, Governor Irungu Kang’ata announced.
“Currently, our level four hospitals, including Maragua Rural, Muriranjas, Bildad Kagia, and the county level 5 facility located in Murang’a town, have been receiving a huge number of patients, and a majority of the cases can be handled in health centers and dispensaries,” Kang’ata remarked.
The county government is targeting to construct 80 new dispensaries, bringing the total to 200, to ensure locals have access to primary healthcare.
An allocation of Sh.180 million has been made in the current financial year for the rehabilitation and construction of health facilities, with an additional Sh.300 million for the procurement of drugs.
Kang’ata also revealed that the county is working to complete the Kenneth Matiba level 5 hospital in Makenji and the Kigumo level 4 facility, which will boost healthcare service delivery in the region.
Furthermore, the county is shifting from the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) to the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), which does not cater to enhanced schemes.
To address this, the county is working to source private insurance companies to provide medical cover for the vulnerable households listed under the Kang’ata Care Health Programme.
“The NHIF has a specialized medical cover and benefits package which have been abolished in the SHIF; therefore, we have no option other than to source the same cover from a private entity,” Kang’ata noted.
The Kang’ata Care program, established last year, aims to provide enhanced medical care and last expense cover for vulnerable families in partnership with NHIF. With the shift to SHIF, the county is seeking alternative insurance solutions to ensure comprehensive healthcare for its residents.
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