Public hospitals to treat children below 5 years for free, Governor Nassir says

Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir during a briefing at his office on March 31, 2023. [Kelvin Karani, Standard]

It is a reprieve for parents after Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir directed all public hospitals in the county to offer free medical care for children aged below five years.

Nassir said free treatment for such children, which is being offered at the Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital (CGTRH), has been extended to hospitals and other medical centres across the county.

Addressing the media at his office on Saturday, Nassir said this was aimed at reducing congestion at CGTRH, which is the main referral hospital facility in the Coast region.

"CGTRH has been giving free medical care to children aged below five. But now all public hospitals in Mombasa county will offer free medical care to children. This will reduce congestion at Coast General," said Nassir, who was accompanied by CGTRH Chief Executive Officer Dr Iqbal Khandwalla and other county officials.

On Saturday, Nassir also announced that the county will hold free medical camps in all 30 electoral wards from June 17 to 27 this year.

He said the county government was planning to place 15,000 residents who are vulnerable under a 100 per cent health insurance cover.

The programme will be rolled out in Mvita sub-county and be extended to all 30 wards where residents will also be assessed before being placed under the health insurance cover.

Community health promoters will also be used in the preparation to implement the health insurance programme.