Here is why Nairobi mums may no longer enjoy free maternity
Free maternal health programme may be headed for a crisis after Nairobi County Government threatened to reintroduce charges in its hospitals.
Governor Evans Kidero has written to Health cabinet secretary James Macharia demanding Sh 165 million for services rendered to patients in county hospitals.
“We are unable to continue providing the much needed services. We shall have no alternative but to revert to charging the services,” he said.
Dr Kidero added: “In compliance to central government directive on provision of free maternity services, Nairobi county has an outstanding reimbursement of over nine months, amounting to Sh 165,171,980 whose details are well within the knowledge of your ministry.”
The Jubilee government introduced free maternal health in public hospitals.
This effectively scrapped any levies to pregnant women seeking to deliver babies in these hospitals.
