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Endometriosis: Njeri Maina pushes for SHA coverage as women face delayed diagnosis
29th September, 2026 07:16 PM
Kirinyaga Woman Representative Njeri Maina has called for endometriosis care to be incorporated into Kenya’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) agenda, including appropriate treatment coverage under the Social Health Authority (SHA).
Speaking during a parliamentary session on Tuesday, September 29,2026, Njeri said the move would help address the challenges faced by women and girls living with the condition, particularly those who struggle to access timely diagnosis and specialised care.
“There is an urgent need to integrate endometriosis care into the Universal Health Coverage agenda, provide appropriate coverage under the Social Health Authority, and decentralise diagnostic and specialised treatment services to county and regional referral facilities across the country,” she said.
She said endometriosis should be treated as a wider public health concern rather than an issue affecting individual women alone.
“Endometriosis is therefore not merely a private medical concern; it is a public-health, social and economic issue that affects the dignity, equality and well-being of women and girls,” she added.
Women facing delayed diagnosis
Njeri added that many Kenyan women continue to suffer for years before receiving an accurate endometriosis diagnosis, often moving between different healthcare facilities while seeking answers for persistent symptoms.
“Many Kenyan women suffer silently for years moving from one facility to another before receiving an accurate diagnosis,” Njeri stated.
According to the lawmaker, the condition can also affect women’s education, employment and financial stability when severe pain interferes with their daily lives.
“Many women endure pain, forcing them to miss education and employment opportunities, lose income and suffer financial burden in seeking medical care,” she said.
Her call comes amid wider discussions around improving access to specialised healthcare services closer to communities. Kenya’s devolved health system has seen specialised services increasingly provided outside national referral centres, although access varies across counties.
Beyond sanitary products
Additionally, Njeri also called for a broader approach to menstrual health, saying awareness should go beyond providing sanitary products.
“Our menstrual-health agenda should go beyond access to sanitary products,” she said.
She called for initiatives that would help women and girls recognise when menstrual pain may require medical attention, particularly when the pain is severe or affects their ability to carry out normal activities.
Njeri urged women and girls to understand that “severe or incapacitating menstrual pain is not normal” and should be reported to healthcare providers.
Her proposals include expanding access to diagnosis and specialised treatment at county and regional referral facilities, while ensuring endometriosis care is considered within the country’s UHC and SHA framework.
