Kenya's President Launches Universal Health Coverage in Kisumu.

President Uhuru Kenya in Kisumu today during the official launch of the Universal Health Coverage on a a pilot basis for four counties-Photo By Dickson Odhiambo.

By Dickson Odhiambo

December 13, 2018.

Kenya's President  Launches Universal Health Coverage in Kisumu.

PRESIDENT Uhuru Kenyatta has today visited Kisumu County within Kenya and launch Universal Health Coverage system in a ceremony that was orchestrated with pomp and color.

President Kenyatta visits Kisumu City for the first time after the infamous handshake between him and Opposition Leader Raila Odinga on March 9 this year where he has today launched and signed a charter for the Universal Health Coverage together with the former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

This is a pilot program that has been launched in a few selected counties so as to see its take off before being rolled out in all parts of the country to carter for all citizens.

The four counties which the Universal Health Coverage is being implemented on a pilot basis Isiolo, Nyeri, Machakos and Kisumu.

Addressing the gathering at Mamboleo Show Ground today during the launch of the Program, President Uhuru Kenyatta said this is a way of lining this country into good primary health care.

“For this reason, Kenya joins the rest of the world in aligning with primary health care approach that was declared in October this year during the Global Conference on Primary Health Care,” President Kenyatta says.

The President says there is need to build resilient and responsible health care systems across the country to guarantee for the Universal health care coverage for all Kenyans.

“Since the year 2013, my Government has focused on the following investment in health sector that include the removal of the user fees at the dispensary and health centers which has led improved health care system at those level,” the Presidents adds.

He says there is an improved program on maternity health care known as Linda Mama Initiative which has eliminated the maternal health cost barriers.

The President adds that the third one is about equipping two hospitals in every county with equipment for specialized treatment.

He says the journey towards the Universal Health Coverage is unstoppable and has reached a critical milestone with its pilot phase launch in Kisumu today.

“This pilot phase of UHC is very critical and it will inform its roll out across the country. This pilot will illicit critical essence that shall inform the scale up to the rest of the country,” Uhuru adds.

He further says all Kenyans residents especially those in the four pilot counties on UHC will have free access to health services across the Counties’ health facilities which will include emergency health services, Child health service, maternal health service, mental health service, infectious disease management, non-communicable disease management, inpatient and outpatient and community health Services.

Kenyatta says the Government will disburse an addition 3.1 billion towards the Afya care initiative, adding that this will be invested in the public health facilities to strengthen the delivery of the primary health care.

He says during the pilot phase, the other 43 remaining counties will be engaged in health system strengthening in anticipation of the countrywide up scaling of the program.

Opposition Leader Raila Odinga who accompanied President Uhuru Kenyatta has thanked the President for the Launch of the program in Kisumu and other three Counties on a pilot basis.

“When we were campaigning, we promised our people that we will put them on the Universal Health Care so that they can be able to access quality medical care and this is a very noble idea,” Raila says.

Universal Health Coverage {UHC} means that all individuals and communities receive the health services they need without suffering financial hardship. 

It includes the full spectrum of essential, quality health services, from health promotion to prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and palliative care.

UHC enables everyone to access the services that address the most significant causes of disease and death, and ensures that the quality of those services is good enough to improve the health of the people who receive them.

Protecting people from the financial consequences of paying for health services out of their own pockets reduces the risk that people will be pushed into poverty because unexpected illness requires them to use up their life savings, sell assets, or borrow – destroying their futures and often those of their children.

Achieving UHC is one of the targets the nations of the world set when adopting the Sustainable Development Goals in 2015. Countries that progress towards UHC will make progress towards the other health-related targets, and towards the other goals. 

Good health allows children to learn and adults to earn, helps people escape from poverty, and provides the basis for long-term economic development.

Some of the Key Facts from the World Health Organization {WHO} says at least half of the world’s population still do not have full coverage of essential health services. As well as about 100 million people are still being pushed into “extreme poverty” (living on 1.90 USD (1) or less a day) because they have to pay for health care.

WHO says over 800 million people (almost 12% of the world’s population) spent at least 10% of their household budgets to pay for health care, adding that all UN Member States have agreed to try to achieve universal health coverage (UHC) by 2030, as part of the Sustainable Development Goals. {Additional report from World Health Organization website}

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