Kasipul MP sets aside Sh5m free medical scheme for the elderly

Kasipul MP Ong’ondo Were (standing) addresses elders at the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) office in Oyugis town. [James Omoro, Standard]

More than 830 senior citizens in Kasipul Constituency are set to benefit from free medical cover courtesy of the area National Governmental Constituency Development Fund (NGCDF).

Kasipul MP Ong’ondo Were said they had set aside Sh5 million to provide the elderly persons with the medical cover in the current financial year.

Speaking at the NGCDF office in Oyugis town during a meeting with the elderly, Mr Were said the medical cover would be provided by the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF).

He said NGCDF will pay NHIF Sh6,000 to cover each senior citizen for one year.

The process of identifying the elderly beneficiaries will kick off this month.

“We have set aside the Sh5 million through the social welfare programme in the NGCDF. The programme will benefit only vulnerable elders who do not earn a pension,” said Were.

He said there were many elderly persons who were suffering due to an inability to afford the cost of medication. “We decided to start this programme because many people develop diseases during old age, making them vulnerable.”

Subsequent years

The legislator added that the programme would continue in the subsequent financial years.

The chairman of the Kasipul Elders Development and Cultural Forum, Philip Ochola, was optimistic that the medical cover would improve their lives.

“This is a good initiative and we still call on other development agencies to consider elders when they are planning their development programmes,” he said.