The Ministry of Education has announced that all learners will be required to register for the Social Health Insurance Fund as dependents on their parents before schools resume for the third term.
In a statement shared on Thursday, August 22, 2024, Education Principal Secretary (PS) Belio Kipsang emphasized that the directive applies to all school going children and all parents/guardians must ensure that all students are registered under the medical scheme.
The PS reiterated that the scheme which is under President William Ruto’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) program is an enhanced benefit package for Edu Afya.
He also advised parents to treat the exercise with utmost urgency.
Registration can be done through the website sha.go.ke or afyangu.go.ke as per the registration manual, it can also be done through dialling *147# on your service provider.
“The Social Health Insurance Act No. 16 of 2023 was enacted on the 19th October, 2023 and commenced on the 22nd November 2023, Section 26 of the Act provides that every Kenyan, including children , shall register as a member of the Social Health Insurance Fund. Therefore, the Ministry of Health, State Department for Medical Services through the Social Health Authority has developed an enhanced benefit package for Edu Afya to be covered under the Social Health Insurance Fund. Registration of all Kenyans to the Social Health Insurance Fund commenced on the 1st of July, 2024 as a key enabler towards realization of our Universal Health Coverage.
“All school going children are therefore required to register as dependants of their parents before school opening dates for 3rd term 2024. The registration can be done through sha.go.ke, *147#, or afyaangu.go.ke as per attached registration manual. A soft copy is also available on www.sha.go.ke. For any challenges during registration please contact Social Health Authority call centre on 0800720601 or [email protected],” the statement reads in parts.
The latest comes as part of the government’s efforts to ensure that more Kenyans register for the Social Health Insurance Fund, mass registration for the scheme which will repeal the current National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) began on July 1, 2024.
The launch was, however, moved to October 1, 2024, as part of the government’s move to push more Kenyans to register.
The scheme will see those in the formal sector paying 2.75 per cent of their salaries whereas those who are unemployed will pay Ksh500 each month.