NHIF targets more children through school registration

THE National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) has come up with a new system of registering beneficiaries of ‘Toto Afya Kadi’ package through schools.

The new system aims at ensuring that more children are registered to the health scheme.

NHIF Director General, Bernard Konga told the media on Tuesday that the move is among the improvement measures taken by NHIF to improve access to health services by children.

He said from March 13, 2023 onwards it can only be done through schools rather than individual.

Moreover, to those who are not in schools, they can be enrolled as dependant through their parents’ health insurance cover as per available package.

“Toto Afya Kadi started in 2016 but to date we have enrolled only 210,664 children under 18-years, we want to ensure that we accommodate more children,” he said.

Mr Konga said they have room for children who are not in schools, whereas they can be registered through their parents and orphanage homes or centres, especially those under difficult environment.

“As for children under five years, they should use the free medical policy under the Ministry of Health to access services in public health centres” he insisted

He advised parents and guardians to go for the new system, however, those who had already been registered and with valid cards will keep on enjoying the medical benefits as per their health insurance package.

Mr Konga said when they are done with the improvement, the ministry of health will announce the way forward, taking into account that the country is heading towards universal health coverage.

He was optimistic that through schools’ registration, the fund will enroll many children thus will improve their access to health services.