All Kenyan Children Under 5 Should Receive Free Healthcare, Paediatrician Says
- The poverty-driven lack of access to healthcare was flagged as a leading cause of death among Kenyan children under five, prompting calls for policy reform
- Felicita Makokha urged Bungoma county to reinstate free treatment for children under five to ensure care for prevalent diseases like sickle cell anaemia
- Experts at the AMPATH summit highlighted the role of evidence-based policies and respectful maternal care in reducing child and maternal deaths
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TUKO.co.ke journalist Harry Ivan Mboto has over three years of experience reporting on politics and current affairs in Kenya
Bungoma paediatrician Felicitas Makokha has raised the alarm over rising child mortality linked to poverty and poor access to medical care.
Source: Original
Makokha, who doubles up as a neonatologist, voiced the concern during the Bungoma Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health (MNCH) summit supported by the Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare (AMPATH), where she underscored the urgent need for free medical treatment for children under five.
Her remarks were made in response to growing evidence that preventable child deaths are increasing following changes in healthcare funding brought on by the implementation of the Social Health Authority (SHA) model.
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She reminded stakeholders that Bungoma had previously implemented a county policy that allowed children below five years to receive treatment at no cost.
This initiative, she said, had significantly improved health outcomes, with children from neighbouring counties accessing care as well.
"Before the implementation of SHA, the treatment of kids under five years in Bungoma was free. This was a policy to improve access to care. It motivated access to healthcare," Makokha told the summit.
The withdrawal of this policy, however, made it harder for vulnerable families to seek timely treatment, especially for conditions like sickle cell disease, which she said is prevalent in the region.
"Sickle cell disease children need to access quality care before two years which if they lack they'll likely die. Free treatment provided essential care to them, but it couldn't continue after the implementation of SHA.We must agree on how we are going to care for these little ones who are ailing critically," she added.
How is maternal and child health in Kenya?
The call for action comes against the backdrop of worrying statistics from the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS) 2022, which reported 355 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births and 21 neonatal deaths per 1,000 live births.
In contrast, global averages stand lower at 197 and 17, respectively, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
These figures have added pressure on counties like Bungoma to implement evidence-backed policies to safeguard the lives of mothers and infants.
Makokha criticised the existing system, citing instances where babies saved in newborn units later died from conditions like pneumonia due to delayed access to care—often because mothers were either not registered under SHA or turned away due to financial barriers.
"We need these children to live and thrive. It's unfair that we work hard in the newborn unit to save a baby, only to lose them to pneumonia because the mother couldn't bring them to the hospital due to not being registered for SHA, or because the baby was brought in too late," the neonatologist explained.
She urged Bungoma leaders to reinstate the free treatment policy and protect children who are most at risk, arguing that their survival should not depend on registration status or financial ability.
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What solutions are being explored?
The summit also showcased collaborative efforts between Bungoma county and AMPATH in implementing the SCINOP (Scientific Citizenry and Knowledge-to-Policy) model.
This initiative aims to strengthen the county’s capacity to use research evidence in crafting impactful policies on maternal and child health.
Through programmes like Chamas for expectant mothers and point-of-care ultrasound, AMPATH has boosted antenatal clinic attendance and early identification of high-risk pregnancies in counties such as Bungoma, Trans Nzoia, Uasin Gishu, and Busia.
Additionally, Julia Songok, dean of the Moi University School of Medicine, encouraged researchers to work directly with counties to ensure that solutions are tailored, inclusive, and driven by real community needs.
Meanwhile, Lucy Namusonge from Kibabii University presented research showing that disrespect and abuse by health workers were discouraging expectant mothers from attending clinics—an issue that further jeopardises maternal and neonatal outcomes.
Read also
SHA can cover up to 4 wives and unlimited number of children, health CS Aden Duale explains
How many children can be covered under SHA?
In a related development, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale clarified that SHA was designed to accommodate large households, including up to four wives and an unlimited number of children.
This came after concerns from a Marsabit resident who pointed out a system limitation during registration, which appeared to allow only one spouse despite earlier promises.
Duale explained that, unlike the old National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF), which limited coverage to one spouse and four children, SHA was intentionally expanded to include polygamous families.
Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
