Feature: Kenyans benefit from nation's heath care scheme

Alex Ingutia and his friend Vincent Mulinge run a mobile phone and computer repair shop in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.

Like many others in the East African nation, they struggle to cater for their family needs.

Food, rent fares... are expenses coming first, while health insurance is the last thing in their minds as they pray none of their family members gets sick.

But now their worries about health care expenses have been eased as about four months ago, they enrolled for the government-run National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) scheme.

Under the NHIF scheme, they contribute about three U.S. dollars each as self-employed persons to get both in-patient and out-patient covers.

Initially, the NHIF scheme mainly covered in-patient services but about a year ago, the law was amended to cover out-patient services, thus making it attractive to small-income earners like Ingutia and Mulinge.

Their family members can now go to both private and public hospitals with the insurance card and receive treatment for any ailment, therefore, lifting the burden of medical care from many Kenyans.

"I have never been happier in my life as I am today because I know that my child and wife's health care has been taken care of. I contribute about 10 dollars every month for my family of three, three dollars for each of us," said Ingutia.

Similarly, Mulinge pays about 12 dollars every month for the medical insurance which is not compulsory for the self-employed or the unemployed, who make the bulk of the Kenyan population.

For the employed, however, it is compulsory with those earning more than 1,000 dollars contributing at least 17 dollars each every month.

According to Simeon ole Kirgotty, the Fund's chief executive, the NHIF is a social cover, making the employed help the unemployed or self-employed.

"This scheme is our step towards a universal health cover. We are on the road towards achieving that goal. The young are supporting the old, the healthy are supporting the sick and those working are supporting the unemployed," Kirgotty said in a recent interview.

That the scheme covers maternal care, one of the top causes of deaths among women in the East African nation, particularly in rural areas, is a big gain for many families.

"For those in the informal sector, one needs to have joined the scheme two months before accessing maternal care," said Kirgotty.

Henry Wandera, an economic lecturer in Nairobi, said the insurance fund was a "game changer" for Kenya as the country seeks to achieve universal health care.

"Even families that earn small incomes can contribute per month and still get treatment. It is a small step in the right direction though several challenges dog the scheme, for instance, big hospitals are not accepting the cards and in public hospitals where the cards are accepted, several offer poor services," he said.

The burden of diseases on families in Kenya is huge, with malaria, tuberculosis, diabetes, hypertension, cancer and HIV/Aids being the leading killers. Endit