Listen to This Article Enhance your reading experience by listening to this article.

Parents yesterday decried the limited time set for registering school-going children to the Social Health Authority (SHA).

The government called on parents over the weekend to ensure that the learners are in the SHA scheme before they resume for the third term this morning.

National Parents Association (NPA) chairperson Silas Obuhatsa admitted yesterday, that the government’s intention towards promoting the health and safety issues of the learners in the country is good, coming late in the day though.

“Yes, it’s a good move, but the time given for parents to register their children is extremely too short,” he said, registering doubts that the good news might have not reached the over 20 million parents affiliated to the Association.

Health Cabinet Secretary, Dr Debora Barasa, in a public call to have students registered under the Authority, outlined the importance of the programme for young Kenyans.

Uninterrupted access

She said the Ministry is committed to ensuring that all Kenyans, especially students, have uninterrupted access to comprehensive healthcare.

“The Ministry of Health emphasizes the importance of completing the registration process promptly to avoid any last-minute inconveniences or potential disruptions in accessing healthcare services for your children,” Dr Barasa wrote in a statement.

The CS noted that in line with the government’s commitment to ensuring Universal Health Coverage (UHC) for all, is a key enabler towards realising it in Kenya. The registration of all Kenyans under the SHA commenced on July 1, 2024. 

“As such school-going children need to be registered as dependents of their parents under SHA before the commencement of the 3rd term of 2024,” she stated.

But in response, Obuhatsa explained that there are many barriers that are likely to hinder many of the parents from registering their children and beating the given deadline.

“We understand that most parents lack access to information, lack of power, internet, distance to places where they can get help and costs involved,” he said, arguing it could be easier for Principals and head teachers at primary schools to take the responsibility of registering the learners on behalf of the parents to make sure that no child is denied this opportunity. He also appealed to the government to extend the registration deadline by three (3) months to enable all learners to be registered.

Appeal for extension

Meanwhile, Obuhatsa feels that the government should give direct leeway to all learners to access the facilities under the SHA even if not registered. He said this is to make it safe for all learners.

“It’s our wish that this scheme isn’t only for public schools but for all school-going children including those in Private and Alternative Providers for Basic Education and Training (APBET) slum schools,” he said.

The parents had only yesterday to meet this condition, and by last evening, it was not clear whether the Ministry had extended the deadline.

Under SHA, the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) Act 2023 repealed the National Health Insurance Fund Act, 1998 (NHIF Act) to establish a framework for the management of social health insurance in Kenya.

The Act became effective November 22, 2023, and established the Social Health Authority (SHA), under which three funds have been created: the Primary Healthcare Fund (PHF), the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), and the Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund (ECCIF).

In reference to this, the CS encouraged parents to register, and to add their children as dependents.

“Under Edu Afya for instance, all registered students will be able to access health benefits through SHA’s enhanced benefits,” she said.

Edu Afya is a comprehensive medical scheme for all public secondary students covering all students captured under the National Education Management Information System (NEMIS) and registered with the defunct NHIF #NHIFKenya #EduAfya. Therefore, parents can register through the following three ways; self-registration by dialling *147# on the mobile phone and following the prompts; self-registration using the SHA portal on www.sha.go.ke, assisted registration by the Community Health Promoter (CHP).

Once registered, students can continue accessing essential services at the nearest healthcare facility or hospital.

“The Ministry will ensure students previously covered under the Edu Afya program, which has been instrumental in providing crucial health services, get enhanced benefits seamlessly under the management of the SHA,” said Dr Barasa.