As the fight against alcohol and narcotics use in the country intensifies, Cabinet Secretary for Health Deborah Barasa has called on Kenyans to enroll into Taifa care cover aimed at ensuring addicts seeking rehabilitation can be treated.
The CS, speaking in Nanyuki on Tuesday where she launched a three-day sensitization, public awareness and capacity building on drugs and substance abuse workshop, pointed out that the government was expanding the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) to cover expensive costs of rehabilitating drug addicts who cannot afford the treatment.
“The government is expanding the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) benefit package to include outpatient coverage for the treatment, cessation, and rehabilitation of drug and substance abuse,” said the CS.
She revealed that the expansion would cover the expensive treatment costs including patients affected by chronic illnesses as a result of drugs and substance use, however encouraged on prevention.
“This expansion will eliminate financial barriers and ensure those in need can access the necessary care,” said Barasa.
She noted that increased registration on Taifa care would attract more funding targeting to ensure Kenyans accessed quality care.
The CS at the same time said that abuse of drugs and substance abuse among the youth had shuttered their dreams hence the need to prevent the menace.
“We commit ourselves to tackling the critical public health challenges of drug and substance abuse. This includes the alarming rise of novel nicotine and emerging tobacco products which pose a growing threat to the youth,” she said, warning that use of narcotics had led to health complications.
Additionally, the CS said that rehabilitation centers would be strategically set in areas with rampant cases of drugs and substance abuse to offer counseling services, detoxification and support services to the addicts towards their recovery journey.
“I am pleased to announce plans to establish treatment, cessation and rehabilitation centres in the 10 high prevalence regions across the country. The centres will be strategically located based on the data to ensure we reach those most in need,” revealed the CS.
Barasa decried the rapid proliferation of nicotine and emerging tobacco products targeting the youth with their enticing packages and flavors for instance nicotine pouches, vapes and electronic cigarettes.
“The tobacco industry aggressively markets these products as safe alternatives to traditional smoking, often targeting our youth with their enticing packages and flavors. This deceptive strategy misleads consumers and fosters a new generation at risk of addictions,” she decried.
Tobacco Control Board Chairperson Dr. Naomi Shaban revealed that following the increased new tobacco products in the market, the government was in the process of amending the Tobacco Control Act to address the gaps aimed at ensuring that they are able to tame the narcotics intake.
“We are in the final stages of amending the Tobacco Control Act of 2007 to align it with the new constitution and effectively address the rise of tobacco products because the tobacco industry is very innovative,” said Dr. Shaban.
Other leaders accompanying the CS including Laikipia governor Joshua Irungu and Laikipia County Commissioner Onesmus Kyatha said that they were targeting for free drug areas through a multisector approach.
Meanwhile, according to a 2022 NACADA national survey on the Status of Drugs and Substance Use (DSU) in Kenya indicated that youth aged 25 to 35 were identified as a vulnerable group for drugs and substance use and dependence.
The survey showed that one in every 3 males aged 15 – 65 years (3,783,854) and 1 in every 16 females (949,298) were using at least one drug or substance of abuse.
By Muturi Mwangi
