CECM Health Services Kiambu County, Dr. Elias Maina addressing the stranded mothers at Thika Level 5 hospital.
It was all joy for over 50 mothers detained at Thika Level Five Hospital in Thika due to unpaid maternity bills after the Kiambu County government granted them a waiver totaling Sh six million and allowed them to go home.
Governor Kimani Wamatangi cleared their debts, which had accumulated to approximately six million shillings, ensuring the mothers could reunite with their families.
The mothers who remained at the hospital during the Christmas and new year period also received monetary support from Embakasi North MP James Gakuya. Each of the released mothers went home with Sh 10,000 to support their livelihoods.
Speaking to journalists, the mothers said they were unable to raise the money and that they did not have any health insurance scheme after the Linda Mama that was covering maternity bills stopped working, while others had difficulties with the SHA program.
Led by Rachel Mbogo whose child had a bill of Sh 196,000, the mothers expressed furry with the death of Linda Mama initiative which they highlighted as having been key in their safe and efficient delivery.
Mary Munge, a resident of Juja who has also been detained for months cited lack of proper sensitization on healthcare schemes, which she herself has vowed to enroll in, saying that if she had one, the burden would not have been that huge.
According to the CECM health services, Dr. Elias Maina, some of the mothers had already been approved for waivers and were in the process of verification.
After analyzing the lists, some other mothers were foreigners from Burundi, and others were underage who did not have identity cards.
Dr. Maina said in just three months, the county government has approved substantial waivers, including Sh 3 million in August 2024 and Sh 4.1 million in September 2024.
MP Gakuya who later addressed journalists at the facility called on the government to fully implement the new healthcare systems to reduce the suffering of Kenyans most of whom are yet to begin enjoying the Social Health Authority (SHA) benefits.
He also called on the Health Minister Dr. Debra Mulongo Barasa to get out of her comfort zone and endeavor to move to hospitals for first-hand experience of SHA inefficiencies.
Besides financial strains that have seen hospitals struggle to maintain operations and pay staff due to delayed and insufficient payments from the SHA, the new healthcare systems have also been grappling with technical difficulties which have made it hard for health facilities to process and sort out claims.
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