Mary Muthoni, the Principal Secretary (PS) for Public Health and Professional Standards in the Ministry of Health, has revealed that the Linda Mama maternal healthcare program has been incorporated into the Social Health Authority (SHA) and now offers more services than in the past.
In a post on X on Monday, December 9, 2024, Muthoni encouraged mothers to register for SHA, noting that they will continue to benefit from Linda Mama, which has now been integrated into the new health cover.
“Linda Mama bado iko ndani ya SHA, ikiwa more enhanced tumeipamba kabisa. Inashughulikia kutoka prenatal, delivery, and postnatal care. Let’s register for SHA (Social Health Authority) *147#,” Muthoni wrote.
Speaking at the African Inland Church (AIC) Pioneer in Eldoret on Sunday, the Public Health PS advocated for the ongoing SHA registration, urging the faithful to embrace the Taifa Care and underscoring its importance in ensuring access to affordable and quality healthcare for all Kenyans.
“Tulikua na programme inaitwa Linda Mama. Hii Linda Mama ilikua inasaidia wamama na Linda Mama mbaka sahi iko pale ndani [ya SHA], lakini tukaipamba kabisa,” she said.
Muthoni explained that, unlike in the past when Linda Mama only catered to women during delivery, the revamped program now covers prenatal, delivery, and postnatal care.
The Social Health Authority (SHA) was launched on September 1, 2024, replacing the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).
There were initial concerns that the Linda Mama program might be phased out with the rollout of SHA.
In August, ahead of the SHA rollout, Muthoni reassured the public that the government was committing Ksh2 billion to enhance the Linda Mama program.
“I want to confirm that it is coming back bigger and better. We are a listening government, we are a listening ministry. We do public participation, and when people tell us this is what they want, then it is packaged together,” Muthoni said on August 6, 2024.
“It is the Social Health Authority that will decide which funds go to Linda Mama and what goes to the Social Health Insurance Fund. NHIF is extended until when SHIF is going to roll out,” she added.
Linda Mama, launched in 2016, is a government initiative aimed at providing affordable and accessible healthcare services to pregnant women, newborns, and children under five years old.
The program is part of the broader effort to improve maternal and child health and ensure that no woman or child is denied medical care due to financial constraints.
Funded initially through NHIF, Linda Mama offered free or heavily subsidized services at both public and accredited private health facilities across the country.
It is a key component of the government’s commitment to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by making healthcare services more accessible and equitable for all, especially vulnerable populations.
