Concerns Over Suspended 3.4 million Students’ Health Insurance
Parents are increasingly worried about the uncertainty surrounding health coverage for over 3.4 million students in public secondary schools.
Silas Obuhatsa, the chairman of the National Parents Association, highlighted that students have been at risk for the past six months due to the sudden termination of the Sh4.5 billion EduAfya insurance scheme.
For the past four years, students in public secondary schools benefited from government-funded medical coverage.
Obuhatsa emphasized that millions of children’s lives now depend on school heads and parents because the government ended the insurance cover without considering the risks to children.
Calls for Immediate Action
Obuhatsa urged the government to promptly find an alternative health cover for students. He noted that the idea of a collective pool for insurance was commendable and should be revived, especially for schools with large student populations facing health emergencies.
Since 2019, the government had invested Sh9.5 billion in the scheme, with 606,893 students seeking medical attention in 2019 alone out of 2.7 million covered.
Agnes Ndunge, a parent at Mbooni Girls School, reported that parents must now make their own medical and insurance arrangements for their children. Schools no longer have funds for paying nurses, medicine, and first aid kits, requiring parents to be called in when students fall sick.
She described the government’s decision to end the EduAfya programme without an alternative as abandoning parents in a challenging situation.
Another parent, Mary Muthoni, pointed out the financial burden, especially since day school fees were fully covered, while boarding schools charged between Sh40,000 and Sh53,000.
Muthoni expressed concerns that schools might increase fees to cover medical expenses, questioning how they will manage the additional costs.
Concerns from School Heads
William Kuria, Chairman of the Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (Kessha), criticized the decision to end the EduAfya programme, urging the government to ensure its continuation.
He stressed the risks to students and the challenges faced by school heads when dealing with student illnesses, particularly chronic diseases that require medical cover.
Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakumicha announced that the scheme would be transferred to the Primary Healthcare Fund, which will cover learners and their families.
She explained that the new arrangement would widen the scope to include all students under their households, making it more comprehensive.
The government has allocated Sh1,999 per child annually for medical and insurance under the Free Day Secondary Education program.
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Overall, the abrupt end of the EduAfya insurance scheme has left a significant gap in student healthcare coverage, causing distress among parents and school administrators.
The government’s proposal to integrate student health coverage with family healthcare aims to address these concerns, though its implementation and effectiveness remain to be seen.
Concerns Over Suspended 3.4 million Students’ Health Insurance
