The Kenyan government is set to reintroduce the popular Linda Mama maternity care programme, Public Health and Professional Standards Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni announced.
The revamped programme promises expanded benefits and improved coverage, reaffirming the government’s commitment to maternal and child health.
“I want to confirm it’s coming back bigger and better because we are a listening government. We are a listening Ministry, we hear, and what we go to is public participation. When people tell us this is what we want, then it is packaged together,” stated PS Muthoni.
The decision to reinstate Linda Mama follows overwhelming public demand. To ensure the new iteration meets the needs of expectant mothers, the government is actively engaging the public to gather input on the desired scope of benefits. This collaborative approach aims to tailor the programme effectively to the needs of the community.
As part of the broader Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), Linda Mama will operate as a dedicated component with its own budget. “Linda Mama is coming back. This is going to be a programme under SHIF just like it used to be, so we will not have separate programmes.
Linda Mama is going to be a standalone programme to take care of the mothers and the children. NHIF is extended on until SHIF is going to roll out, so we have not stopped Linda Mama,” explained Muthoni.
A key feature of the enhanced programme is comprehensive care, covering both normal and caesarean deliveries without additional out-of-pocket expenses for beneficiaries. This initiative aims to alleviate the financial burden on expectant mothers, ensuring they have access to quality maternal healthcare.
The government has already allocated initial funding for the revamped Linda Mama and plans to secure additional resources during the upcoming budget process. “In fact, this year alone we have injected KES 2.3 billion for the Linda Mama programme, and out of this, it’s going to take care of the mothers who are pregnant. It should not be a challenge going to the health facility to deliver,” the PS highlighted.
