Jubilee Health and AKUH Nairobi launch a week-long health campaign in Nakuru

KENYA— In a bid to improve access to affordable healthcare services in marginalized communities, Jubilee Health Insurance and Aga Khan University Hospital-Nairobi (AKUH-N) have launched a week-long healthcare initiative in Nakuru.

The Afya Mashinani initiative will host free medical camps which will offer residents free medical consultations, free medication, various screenings, Covid-19 vaccinations, and other necessary healthcare support.

Afya Mashinani, which translates to “Healthcare in the Community,” is a comprehensive campaign that addresses pressing healthcare needs while empowering communities from underserved areas through education, outreach, and quality medical services.

The campaign seeks to reinforce Jubilee Health’s commitment to improving healthcare access and promoting overall well-being for all Kenyan citizens.

The initiative, which was first successfully piloted in the Meru Region, will now be rolled out in Nakuru and Naivasha.

Njeri Jomo, Chief Executive Officer at Jubilee Health Insurance said at the launch, “We are thrilled to extend our Afya Mashinani initiative to the Nakuru region, as we firmly believe that accessible healthcare is a fundamental right for all individuals.”

Jomo added that by combining education, outreach, and medical services, Jubilee aimed to empower communities, address healthcare disparities, and contribute to the government’s agenda of providing affordable and accessible healthcare to all Kenyan citizens.

In tandem, Rashid Khalani, CEO of AKUH-N, reiterated that impacting the community was one of AKUH-N’s core values and they were pleased to do that by collaborating with Jubilee Health Insurance on this initiative.

“This partnership will provide access to quality healthcare services to the residents from our highly qualified medical staff,” said Khalani.

Khalani also added that the free wellness check-ups would make a meaningful impact on the health and well-being of the Naivasha and Nakuru communities by helping them identify any diseases early for timely intervention.

The Afya Mashinani initiative aligns with the county’s healthcare agenda and supports the broader national goal of ensuring equitable healthcare services to reach even the most remote regions.

By collaborating with local stakeholders and the government, Jubilee Health Insurance seeks to make a lasting impact on the lives of individuals and families in the Nakuru region.

Additionally, the Afya Mashinani Initiative directly aligns with Jubilee Health Insurance’s vision of touching over 2 million lives by 2025.

Through this initiative, Jubilee Health Insurance is actively working towards reaching and positively impacting a significant portion of this target.

Jubilee Health Insurance invites all residents of Naivasha and Nakuru town to join in this noble initiative, benefit from the free medical camp, and take a proactive step towards better health and well-being.

Healthcare Insurance in Kenya

Improving Kenya’s socio-economic status will aid in raising the insurance penetration levels which have remained for a long time below global averages which indicates a large, uninsured customer base.

At 3%, Kenya has the third lowest insurance penetration rate in Sub-Saharan Africa with South Africa leading at 17%, reports KPMG.

This is due to most of Kenya’s population perceiving insurance as a “nice-to-have/easy to discard” product rather than one that is essential.

There are 58 insurers and reinsurers in Kenya and the market is dominated by CIC, Jubilee, Britam, ICEA, Lion General, and APA Insurance. General insurance dominates the industry, accounting for 60% of industry gross written premiums. 

The low penetration has largely been attributed to a lack of consumer awareness of the various insurance options as well as the importance of insurance.

With most insurers updating their policies to exclude catastrophic events such as these and the impacts of COVID-19 and business interruption, local consumers’ distrust of insurers continues to increase.

Despite the low insurance penetration rate, the Kenyan government has been proactive when it comes to educating the population about the benefits of insurance products.

The Insurance Regulatory Authority for instance conducts several consumer education programmes around the country on an annual basis.

The week-long Afya Mashinani initiative will also try to demystify health insurance while engaging Naivasha and Nakuru residents on the importance and benefits of health coverage.

For all the latest healthcare industry news from Africa and the World, subscribe to our NEWSLETTER, and YouTube Channel, follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn, and like us on Facebook.