Reprieve for children and people born with blood disorders, such as haemophilia and sickle cell, as the National Health Insurance Fund, NHIF, might soon cover their treatment cost.
Currently, blood disorders are not covered under the current NHIF packages, which necessitate patients seeking treatment to dig deeper into their pockets.
Data shows that 14,000 children are born with sickle cell in Kenya every year, while there are 5,000 people living with haemophilia.
This push by the Kenya Haemophilia Association, will have all blood disorder patients’ treatment included in NHIF with an aim of lifting the treatment burden off patients.
Further, it aims to ensure health facilities stock the required treatment options as they will be assured of payment.
Hemophilia is an inherited bleeding disorder in which the blood does not clot properly leading to spontaneous bleeding as well as bleeding following injuries or surgery.
To ensure proper and effective treatment, Kenya has been able to establish more than six haemophilia clinics in Bungoma, Meru, Laikipia, Kakamega, Garissa and Narok with two more pending in Turkana and Kisumu.
In addition, 42 laboratory staff, 29 physiotherapists and 228 clinicians, nurses and pharmacists have been trained to run the newly established clinics.
Further, Sh500 million will be set aside for awareness of blood disorders in the country.
Western and Nyanza regions have a high prevalence of sickle cell anaemia accounting for up to 30 per cent of sickle cell anaemia cases in the country per year but there is low knowledge of the condition among residents.
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