Health Cabinet Secretary, Aden Duale, has announced that 107,000 Community Health Promoters (CHPs) will, from July 1, receive comprehensive medical cover under the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), and also convert into permanent and pensionable terms of service.
Speaking at the Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital (CGTRH) during the launch of the Mombasa Radiotherapy Centre and Linear Accelerator (LINAC) machine procured by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Duale said the national government had reached an agreement with county governments to ensure CHPs receive comprehensive health cover and facilitate the transfer of UHC workers’ payrolls.
“We have agreed with the Council of Governors because you’re the frontline healthcare workers. You do a very great work, both levels of government, we are going to provide the specialised bit of the SHIF comprehensive cover,” declared the CS.
On UHC workers, the CS said their contracts have been extended to June 30, with funds already allocated to the State Department for Medical Services.
He added that the workers will transition to permanent and pensionable terms from July 1 and will thereafter be paid by county governments, bringing to an end a longstanding standoff between UHC workers and the government.
The CS noted that cancer remains a major global public health challenge and, locally, one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality, placing a heavy burden on families and the healthcare system.
“For many years, access to radiotherapy services has been limited and has been centralized, with many patients forced to travel long distances, often to Nairobi, to receive treatment. This has resulted in long waiting times as well as substantial financial and emotional strain,” said CS Duale.
“These barriers have resulted in delays in accessing care, increasing treatment costs and tragically poorer health outcomes,” he added.
Duale described the commissioning of the machine as a bold step toward equity in cancer care and a demonstration of the government’s commitment to ensuring that no Kenyan is denied life-saving treatment because of geographical location.
He praised the International Atomic Energy Agency for supporting the acquisition of modern radiotherapy machines that will benefit patients in Mombasa and Nakuru counties, saying the support had strengthened the country’s cancer treatment ecosystem.
“These machines are critical because 50 per cent of our cancer patients require radiotherapy as part of their treatment. As a result, Kenya is moving from a highly centralised system mainly based in Nairobi to other regional cancer hubs,” stated the CS.
“This has reduced congestion at national referral hospitals, improved geographic access to treatment and faster initiation of therapy for patients, leading to earlier treatment initiation, better survival rates and reduced disease progression due to delays,” he added.
To strengthen cancer prevention, screening and early diagnosis, the CS said the government is expanding treatment services across the country, investing in healthcare workers and integrating cancer care into the Universal Health Coverage agenda.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said there is no room for complacency in tackling the cancer burden and called for concerted efforts to address the disease.
“We are now helping people. You were reminding us that you have to go to India and South Africa, now people can have treatment at home,” he stated, noting that more machines will be procured to help reduce cancer-related deaths.
Governor Abdulswamad Nassir said cancer is the third leading cause of death in the country and affects people regardless of tribe, age or social status.
“It is a scourge that is here. We are here to save lives as leaders in government,” he stated, noting that patients previously travelled long distances to access radiotherapy services but will now receive treatment closer to home.
The Governor said the county government is undertaking an expansion drive at the CGTRH, the main referral facility for the Coast region, adding that the county has heavily invested in the health sector.
“We want to make CGTRH a hospital of choice not of necessity. People need to choose CGTRH because it is where they prefer to go,” the governor said.
by Sadik Hassan
