Narok: Narok Governor Patrick Ole Ntutu has expressed concern over the low number of residents registered under the Social Health Authority (SHA), warning that thousands risk being locked out of essential healthcare services if the trend continues. Speaking during the launch of medical supplies worth Sh50 million at the Narok county referral hospital, Governor Ntutu noted that only 22 percent of the county's population has so far enrolled in the new social health insurance scheme, a figure he described as worrying.
According to Kenya News Agency, Governor Ntutu stated, "We haven't been doing as well as other counties. So far, we've only registered 22 percent of our population." He further explained that the issue becomes apparent when patients visit hospitals for treatment, with reports indicating that the majority have not registered with SHA, which is intended to assist them in settling their medical bills.
Governor Ntutu emphasised that the SHA programme has already proven effective in assisting some residents in covering treatment costs, but warned that many are still unaware or misinformed about the scheme's benefits. He affirmed, "SHA is working, and it has helped people in this county to offset their bills."
To address the low uptake, the governor announced that his administration will launch a comprehensive sensitisation campaign aimed at encouraging residents to register for SHA. "I have planned with my administration to carry out SHA registration sensitisation exercises to enlighten our people about the importance of registering under this social health insurance," Ntutu said.
The governor called on community leaders, health workers, and civil society to support the initiative and help bridge the information gap that may be hindering registration efforts.