Nyeri Catholic Archbishop Anthony Muheria has urged the Social Health Authority to clear all the pending debts at health facilities to alleviate the sickening situation facing patients nationwide.

Speaking during the 37th Graduation Ceremony of Sister Leonella Consolata Medical College (SLCMC) in Kiganjo, Nyeri County, on Friday, October 31, 2025, Muheria called upon SHA to find meaningful ways to deal with the stalemate that has left many patients dealing with the burden of medical attention.

Resolving SHA stalemate

”Those difficulties that we are facing, let us find ways so that we can address them, let us find ways that are not loud and do not have to be acrimonious. Listen to when we feel that the rock is pressing us and crushing us. A little bit of relief is in order,” Muheria told Principal Secretary for Medical Services, Ouma Oluga.

On his part, Oluga asked religious leaders to lead by influencing Kenyans to register with SHA amid the confusion.

”You have a big voice every Sunday on the platforms to socialise and to encourage Kenyans to pay up their Social Health Insurance. If we work together in building the domestic resources that we need to finance healthcare, then we will not fail our obligation to support hospitals,” Oluga noted.

He also urged newly qualified healthcare professionals to serve Kenyans with compassion, integrity, and professionalism as they enter the medical workforce while commending the 224 graduates for their dedication and commitment to excellence, aligning with the event’s theme “Compassionate Healthcare Delivery fuelled by Hope.”

Oluga’s Message to graduates

He reminded graduates that healthcare extends beyond technical knowledge, stressing the importance of empathy, honesty, and patient-centred care in building public trust.

“Your skills will save lives, your compassion will heal hearts, and your integrity will sustain trust in our health system,” Oluga said.

The PS praised SLCMC for nurturing health professionals inspired by the values of Sister Leonella Sgorbati, the college’s namesake, whose legacy of service continues to shape compassionate healthcare in Kenya. Encouraging the graduates to embrace innovation, Dr Oluga challenged them to explore opportunities beyond hospital walls — including insurance, pharmaceuticals, research, academia, and artificial intelligence.

“You are Gen Z — impatient, creative, and bold. Use that energy to change healthcare for good,” he said. Archbishop Anthony Muheria, Archbishop of Nyeri and Chair of the College Board, reaffirmed the Church’s commitment to healthcare, describing it as a “divine mission to uphold human dignity.”

He called for closer partnerships with the government in areas such as tutor secondment and redistribution of idle medical equipment to underserved regions.