Nurse Petitions for Review of Edu Afya Medical Program For Students
The Edu Afya program in Kenya, which provides medical insurance coverage to students in public secondary schools under the National Education Management System (NEMIS), has been deemed ineffective in providing necessary medical care.
The program covers a range of outpatient medical services, including road and air evacuation, dental, optical, group personal accident, and group life coverage.
Health facilities with existing NHIF contracts, accredited mission/faith-based health facilities, and some private hospitals are eligible to provide services to students.
According to a nurse at Kenyatta Hospital, Joyce Cherono, more than 800,000 students have not received any benefits from the Sh4 billion medical insurance coverage since its inception.
Cherono attributes the shortcomings of the Edu Afya program to several factors, including a lack of public awareness, health providers’ lack of confidence in it, difficulties in obtaining NEMIS for students, and a failure to engage relevant stakeholders in the implementation process.
In response to these challenges, Cherono has petitioned the National Assembly Public Petitions Committee to review the program, including allowing students who are not in the NEMIS database to benefit from it.
She also suggested that the role of school principals be included in ensuring effective utilization of the fund.
The Edu Afya program was established to benefit students across the country, but its effectiveness has been hindered by administrative and implementation issues.
The lack of awareness and engagement with relevant stakeholders, such as health providers and school principals, has contributed to the program’s limited impact.
To improve the program’s effectiveness, there needs to be a concerted effort to increase public awareness and engage with relevant stakeholders in the implementation process.
Allowing students who are not in the NEMIS database to benefit from the program could also increase its impact.
Additionally, the role of school principals should be included in ensuring effective utilization of the fund, as they are well-positioned to oversee the program’s implementation and ensure that students receive the medical care they need.
Nurse Petitions for Review of Edu Afya Medical Program For Students
