Garissa health facilities receive over 1,000 tablets in digital health push

Health facilities across seven sub-counties in Garissa County were on Friday equipped with tablets in a move to promote digital health transformation in the region.

In an event held in Garissa town, led by Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale to launch the Social Health Authority (SHA) onboarding and Digital Health Transformation Programme, the government distributed 1,011 tablets for use in the public health facilities under the national digitisation of the Taifa Care programme.

The CS said the initiative to launch the two activities aimed at strengthening Universal Health Coverage and expanding access to health protection through a robust public engagement campaign.

"Our goal is bold-universal, affordable, accessible healthcare for every Kenyan. Today, we are not just switching on devices, we are also activating a new era of health service delivery," he said.

Duale envisaged that with over 23 million Kenyans already registered on SHA, the government would remain committed to ensuring no one was left behind.

He stated that the digital rollout will empower frontline health workers, ensure accountability, transparency, and service delivery across the healthcare system.

The CS expressed concern about the low SHA registration in Garissa County, where he said only 150,000 residents registered against the targeted number of over 800,000 people.

He singled out Fafi, Ijara and Dadaab constituencies as the worst affected in low registration, urging chiefs and county health officials to actively rally support in the registration of SHA.



"You have no reason not to register for SHA, it's for your own benefit, if you are married to four wives and you have 100 children, the system still allows you. Regardless of where you are at any moment, register using your mobile phones," he encouraged.

He said the system was affordable and beneficial, citing Lipa SHA pole pole, a flexible payment plan for Kenyans with irregular incomes that allows annual contributions to be paid in small installments-daily, weekly, or monthly.

"With support from the Hustler Fund, eligible Kenyans can activate cover immediately and repay at zero interest. Your health cannot wait, and neither should your cover," he said.

Garissa Governor Nathif Jama lauded the national government for the donation of the tablets that he said will help in timely data collection, patient referrals and treatment tracking.

"Our health workers are now better equipped to deliver timely and effective care. Integration into the national digital system means more coordinated, efficient services, driven by data," he said.



Nathif also expressed concern about the low SHA registration, posing a question about whether there is a myth, religious or cultural hindrance surrounding the low registration.

"How can you people delay registering a healthcare system that is of your own benefit? What is stopping not from registering?" he posed during the launch at the Garissa Regional Police Training Centre.

Garissa Senator Abdikadir Haji, Garissa township MP Dekow Mohamed, Ijara Mp Abdi Ali, Nominated MP Ummulkheir Harun and Fafi MP Salah Yakub used the moment to drum support for massive registration of SHA, emphasising on the benefits.

SHA CEO Dr Mercy Mwangangi also emphasised inclusivity at the core of the mission.

"SHA is designed to ensure that every Kenyan, regardless of where they live or how much they earn, can access healthcare without financial hardship.

Our work in Garissa today reflects our commitment to an equitable health system, and we remain focused on reaching every community," she said.

In a press release, the Ministry of Health said Garissa has 246 health facilities, of which 175 are already connected to the national provider portal.

To ensure sustainability, the ministry said it partnered with Safaricom to support device tracking and replacement in case of damage or loss.