Uasin gishu: Uasin Gishu Senator and Chairperson of the Senate Health Committee, Jackson Mandago, has called on the Ministry of Health to streamline the Social Health Authority (SHA) registration and reimbursement systems to ensure Kenyans, particularly expectant mothers, can access services without unnecessary delays. Mandago made the remarks on Monday during the launch of the 2000-bed Multi-Specialty Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) in Kiplombe, Uasin Gishu County, highlighting that many mothers, especially teenagers, face hospital detention due to delays in obtaining Identity Cards (IDs) and the special numbers required for SHA registration.
According to Kenya News Agency, Mandago urged mothers to register early during clinic visits to avoid last-minute complications during delivery. “Do not wait until the day you are in labor to register for SHA. Register when you are still attending antenatal visits so that when you bring another Kenyan into this country, your focus is on the child and not paperwork,” Mandago said. He emphasized the importance of integrating mothers and newborns into health and education programs, including the competency-based curriculum.
The senator also called on SHA leadership to designate officers to specific regions to facilitate communication with county governments. This, he explained, would ensure counties know whom to contact in cases of reimbursement delays or system failures. Mandago further urged MTRH board officials to collaborate with technology partners to strengthen the digital systems supporting health programs, ensuring they are robust and capable of meeting public demand.
He commended President William Ruto’s administration for expanding Kenya’s healthcare infrastructure, noting that within three years, the country has gained more than 10 new referral facilities, a significant increase from the pre-devolution era when only Kenyatta National Hospital and MTRH served as national referral hospitals. “Even while addressing economic challenges, the President has delivered over 10 additional referral facilities. This new MTRH complex will not only serve Kenya but the entire continent. It is time for Africa to rise, provide its own services, and take care of its own citizens,” Mandago said.