Parents Want Health Coverage for Students Back.
Parents are voicing serious concerns about the ongoing uncertainty facing over 3.4 million public secondary school students in Kenya. The National Parents Association Chairman, Silas Obuhatsa, highlighted the issue, revealing that for the past six months, students have been vulnerable due to the abrupt end of the Sh4.5 billion EduAfya insurance scheme.
For four years, all students in public secondary schools benefited from this government-funded medical cover. However, Obuhatsa stressed that millions of children’s lives are now at risk because of the government’s decision to terminate the insurance without considering the potential dangers. He is urging the government to quickly find an alternative health cover for learners. Obuhatsa emphasized the value of having a collective insurance pool, which is especially important for schools with large populations during outbreaks. Currently, parents are facing significant hardships.
From 2019 to 2023, the government spent Sh9.5 billion on the scheme. In 2019 alone, 606,893 students out of 2.7 million covered sought medical attention. The Ministry of Education’s guidelines for free day secondary education previously included coverage for emergency injuries, accidents, last respects, emergency drugs, first aid kits, and medical cover for students.
However, in December last year, the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) terminated its four-year contract with the Ministry of Education due to the Universal Health Insurance Act 2023. This decision has left parents and educators deeply concerned about students’ well-being.
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Parents’ Struggles and Perspectives
Agnes Ndunge, a parent at Mbooni Girls School, expressed her frustration. Parents now need to make their own medical and insurance arrangements to ensure their children receive medical attention when needed. Schools no longer have a budget for nurses, medicine, and first aid kits, forcing them to call parents when students fall sick. Ndunge emphasized that the end of the EduAfya programme has left parents in a difficult position, as they now must navigate these challenges alone.
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Another parent, Mary Muthoni, highlighted the financial burden. While day school fees were fully covered, boarding schools charged between Sh40,000 and Sh53,000. Muthoni fears that schools will soon increase fees to cover medical expenses, questioning how they will manage these additional costs. Previously, parents only had to buy school uniforms and cover lunch costs and boarding-related levies. She worries that without the insurance scheme, schools might raise fees to accommodate these new expenses.
Educators’ Concerns and Calls for Action
William Kuria, Chairman of the Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (Kessha), criticized the decision to scrap the programme. He urged the government to ensure its continuity, emphasizing the need to retain the benefits realized with NHIF. Kuria pointed out the significant risks to students and the challenges faced by school heads when students fall ill, particularly those with chronic diseases requiring medical cover. School heads now face increased difficulties in managing medical costs, such as paying school nurses and transporting children to hospitals, placing a heavy burden on parents.
Government Response and Future Plans
Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakumicha announced that the scheme will be transferred to the Primary Healthcare Fund, covering learners alongside their families. The new arrangement aims to widen the scope, ensuring all students are covered under their households. Nakumicha explained that it makes more sense to cover a student along with the rest of their household rather than separately.
Under the Free Day Secondary Education program, the government allocated Sh1,999 per child annually for medical and insurance coverage. However, parents and educators remain skeptical and concerned about the future of student health coverage in Kenya.
In conclusion, the termination of the EduAfya insurance scheme has left a significant gap in the health coverage of public secondary school students. Parents, educators, and school heads are urging the government to act swiftly and find a viable alternative. The new plan to transfer the scheme to the Primary Healthcare Fund offers a glimmer of hope, but until it is fully implemented, many parents remain worried about their children’s health and the financial burden it imposes on them.
Parents Want Health Coverage for Students Back.
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