Lodwar, 3 December 2024 (Public Communications and Media Relations)
Turkana County is implementing various strategies to increase Social Health Authority (SHA) registrations. Currently, only 31,000 residents have registered, representing less than 5% of the county’s target of 926,000.
During an online meeting with all eleven sub-county management teams (SHMTs), the Director of Planning, Policy, Monitoring, and Evaluation, James Lobokan, emphasized the importance of facility registration and licensing by the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC).
He noted that additional SHA tablets will be distributed to more facilities as licensing progresses. “Even as the county waits for the tablets, registration can still be done using smartphones,” Lobokan said.
To date, 198 health facilities in the county have been registered, with 145 licensed out of a total of 214. The county currently has 134 tablets to facilitate registration and claims processing, with more expected as additional facilities are licensed.
Veronica Ereng, the Medical Officer of Health for Aroo Sub-county, highlighted the importance of community sensitization and the role of Community Health Assistants in registering households using mobile phones.
She noted challenges such as the shortage of birth certificates for children under 18 and the lack of phone numbers and/or identification cards for some adults.
Joel Lochor, Medical Officer of Health for Turkana West, echoed these concerns, emphasizing the difficulties faced by highly mobile pastoralist communities along borders.
Elphas Maiyo, Public Health Officer for Loima Sub-county, stressed the need for more community sensitization to address resistance to the new Universal Health Coverage medical scheme.
Dr. Kidalio Ekiru, Director of Medical Services, advised SHMTs to collaborate with national and county administrators to convene public barazas for sensitization and registration. “SHA registration is mandatory, whether one is employed or not,” Dr. Ekiru emphasized.
Director Lobokan also recommended setting up SHA registration desks at all health facilities.
Nancy Kiyonge, Deputy Director of Partnerships, called for collaboration with local leaders and the integration of SHA registration into ongoing activities in the sub-counties.
