This archive report was first published on 5 June 2020.
Laikipia Governor Ndiritu Muriithi's administration has made significant strides in improving healthcare services in the county, particularly for vulnerable households.
On June 3, 2020, Governor Muriithi launched a new National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) plan, which aims to benefit over 4,000 vulnerable households in the county.
The plan, which was launched at Nanyuki Teaching and Referral hospital, will see an additional 22,615 residents of the county covered by the health insurer at a cost of Ksh 27 million.
The households were identified based on social-economic status data collected by Community Health Volunteers.
"A resilient and sustainable health system is one of the goals my administration is focused on achieving in the post-Covid-19 era," Governor Muriithi said during the launch.
As part of the plan, the county government has partnered with NHIF to accredited 45 public health facilities with the insurer in the area, with another 39 facilities set to be accredited by June 30.
The county boss also announced the recruitment of an additional 152 health workers of several cadres to boost healthcare in the area.
"This has seen all our dispensaries achieving the standard of two nurses per facility. Other facilities like Likii, Kimanjo, Salama, and Rumuruti have pharmaceutical and laboratory technologists, clinical officers and public health officers," he added.
Furthermore, health facilities across the county had recently received essential drugs and other commodities worth Ksh 41 million.
"These commodities are meant to help in the management and control of diseases and I urge citizens to utilize our facilities even in the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic," Governor Muriithi said.
