The Ministry of Education has directed parents to register all school-going children in the new medical cover under the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) before schools open next week.
In a circular dated 16th August, the Principal Secretary for Basic Education Bellio Kipsang tasked regional and county education directors to ensure all students are registered in SHIF before the new term begins.
“All school-going children are therefore required to register as dependants of their parents before the school opening dates for the third term of 2024,” Dr Kipsang said.
The compulsory registration follows the discontinuation of the EduAfya health cover, which provided medical cover to secondary school students earlier.
The changes have received negative feedback from the schools since the shift in responsibility to the parents and institutions when a student falls sick is leading to mass dissatisfaction.
The timeline of the registration exercise has also been equally faulted by the National Parents Association.
“As much as we applaud the government for reverting to medical cover for learners in schools, we request for an extension in registration,” said Mr Obuhatsa Silas, the chairman of the National Parents Association.
He said parents in remote areas were having a hard time returning their students within the given time frame.
“Most parents are struggling to return learners to schools next week, and this means that we shall need more time for registration”, Obuhatsa added.
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Going by the circular, the State remains committed to universal health coverage where every Kenyan shall be guaranteed free medical care up to the age of 18 years through SHIF.
In collaboration with the State Department for Medical Services and the Social Health Authority, the Ministry of Health has broadened this cover previously comprehended under EduAfya.
The new directive aligns with Section 26 of the Social Health Insurance Act No. 16 of 2023 declaring that SHIF is compulsory for registration by all, including children.
This Act was assented on 19th October 2023 and came into operation on November 22, 2023.
Since July 1, 2024, SHIF has been open for registration through the SHIF website, SMS by dialling “147#”, and the Afyangu portal.
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