The recent suspension of the EduAfya insurance scheme has really worried parents and teachers about the fate of more than 3.4 million students studying in public secondary schools in Kenya. This is a Ksh 4.5 billion program that offered government-paid medical coverage to students but was scrapped six months ago, further raising uncertainty and anxiety among the parents and school administrators alike.
Background of the EduAfya Insurance Scheme
In 2019, the EduAfya insurance scheme was launched with a view to giving students in public secondary schools full health insurance cover. It covered a myriad of medical needs, including emergency injuries and accidents, emergency drugs, and first-aid kits, among others, that were financed by the government. Within the four years of operation, Sh9.5 billion had been injected into the scheme, and 606,893 students had requested for medical cover in the year 2019 alone.
Termination of the Scheme
The NHIF ended its four-year contract with the Ministry of Education in December last year following the enactment of the Universal Health Insurance Act, 2023. One of the results of this legislative change has been to put a halt to the EduAfya programme, hence ceasing to insure students medical cover as before.
Concerns from Parents and Educators
Health Risks and Financial Burden
The chairman of the National Parents Association, Silas Obuhatsa, has raised concern over the risks students are exposed to without medical cover. He warned of a move by the government to expose students to dangers, especially in populous schools where outbreaks could occur.
Agnes Ndunge and Mary Muthoni were among the parents who cited an added financial burden now put upon families. According to Ndunge, schools do not have money for nurses, medicine, or first aid kits, leaving parents to make personal Medicare and insurance arrangements. Muthoni feared an increment in fees by schools to cater to medical expenses, an already huge financial strain on parents.
Impact on Schools and Administrators
William Kuria, the chairman of the Kenya Secondary School Heads Association, came out to denounce scrapping of the EduAfya program. He stressed that benefits realized should not be allowed to slip out and lobbied for the continuity of the program. Kuria said school heads have been inconvenienced in managing school pupils’ health, especially those with chronic conditions that demand consistent medical attention.
Government’s Response and Future Plans
Cabinet Secretary for Health Susan Nakumicha announced the intention to transit the scheme to the Primary Healthcare Fund, under which learners will now be covered alongside their families. This new arrangement plans to embrace family health comprehensively by ensuring that all members of respective houses are covered and not only the students.
This proposed solution arouses concern about its implementation and the immediate needs of students currently without cover. The government had allocated Sh1,999 per child annually for medical and insurance through the Free Day Secondary Education, but how this is to be incorporated into the new scheme remains to be seen.
Conclusion
The abrupt termination of the EduAfya insurance scheme has left a significant gap in the healthcare coverage for students in public secondary schools. Parents and educators are rightfully concerned about the immediate risks and long-term implications of this decision. The ministry should accelerate the implementation of the new health arrangement and ensure the health needs of students are well catered to without transference of financial burdens to parents. Health cover policy for students is not a question of policy but a view in securing their wellness and future.