- Turkana County rolls out a seven-day rapid campaign to sign up 100,000 people to SHA.
- Registration is free; the county pays the first instalment for every new member.
- Over 2,600 community workers are involved, covering 256 village units.
- Residents urged to join and avoid high hospital costs.
- The county eyes enrolling 1.5 million residents into SHA within a year.
Turkana County has launched a fast-paced campaign to register 100,000 new members to the Social Health Authority (SHA) within a week. The effort, part of a wider plan to improve health access in the county, was flagged off by Deputy Governor Dr. John Erus.
During the launch, he announced that registration is free, and the county will pay the first instalment for those who sign up. He called on locals to take advantage of the opportunity while it lasts.
“This program will help every family, especially the poor, to get health services without struggling,” he said.
The campaign is running across all sub-counties and aims to reach even the most remote villages. More than 2,600 Community Health Promoters (CHPs), chiefs, ward and village administrators have been sent out to help register locals.
Dr. Epem Joseph Esekon, the County CEC for Health, said Turkana often misses out on health funding because of low registration numbers. This drive, he explained, is a major step in changing that.
“We are not just enrolling names. We are working to make Turkana healthier and stronger,” he added.
As it stands, just over 164,000 people are registered with SHA in a county of nearly one million residents. Chief Officer Janerose Tioko noted that while over 200 health facilities are ready to serve SHA members, most residents are still not covered.
“With SHA, you can walk into a hospital and get treated without worrying about the bill,” she reminded the public.
She asked parents, youth, and elderly residents to use this moment to protect their families from emergency medical costs.
To hit its goal, the county is also working with local groups like Boda Boda operators, traders, and fish sellers. Leaders from these associations are helping to spread the message and encourage their members to register.
Dr. Esekon emphasised that their approach is simple: reach everyone and leave no one behind.
One mother, Christine Asiyapat, spoke emotionally about how SHA covered her child’s ICU treatment, something she could never have paid for alone. Her bill, which included scans and care, would have crossed KSh 400,000.
Her story moved leaders at the event. In response, Dr. Erus pledged to clear any remaining hospital charges for her family and used the moment to encourage more people to join SHA.
“Our bigger goal is to enrol 1.5 million people in one year. This one-week drive is only the start,” he said.
However, not all is smooth. Dr. Erus admitted that some residents still lack ID cards or phones, both required for registration. He called on the national government to consider changes, like allowing CHPs to help residents sign up even if they don’t have phones.
“The system must fit our people’s reality. Otherwise, many will be left out,” he said.
Despite these challenges, field workers say they are ready and equipped to exceed their daily targets and help transform healthcare in Turkana.
