Health Literacy Campaigns Promoted by SHA

Introduction

Health literacy—the ability to access, understand, and use health information to make informed decisions—is critical in Kenya, where a population of 53 million faces a dual burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes (9% prevalence) and hypertension (24%), alongside infectious diseases such as cholera (2,000 cases in 2025) and malaria (3.5 million cases annually) (KDHS 2022, MoH 2025). Low health literacy, particularly in rural Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) with 40% health facility coverage compared to 70% in urban centers like Nairobi, exacerbates health disparities, delays care, and increases 40% out-of-pocket spending (World Bank 2022). The Social Health Authority (SHA), launched on October 1, 2024, under the Social Health Insurance Act of 2023, replaced the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to advance Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030. By September 2025, SHA has registered 26.7 million Kenyans (50% of the population), disbursed KSh 8 billion to frontline services, and covered 4.5 million treatments without out-of-pocket costs. Through its Primary Health Care Fund (PHCF), SHA promotes health literacy campaigns to enhance awareness, reduce misconceptions, and improve service uptake, particularly among informal workers (83% of the workforce) and marginalized groups like refugees (774,370 in 2024). This article provides a comprehensive, factual guide to SHA’s health literacy campaigns, detailing initiatives, impacts, challenges, and practical guidance, grounded in Kenya’s medical situation, government reports, GeoPoll surveys, and public sentiment on X.

The Health Literacy Challenge in Kenya

Low health literacy significantly hinders Kenya’s healthcare system:

• Prevalence and Impact: Only 30% of Kenyans understand basic health insurance benefits, per GeoPoll’s February 2025 survey (n=961), with rural areas (45% of respondents) showing lower awareness due to 42% internet access and limited education (KNBS 2023). Misconceptions, such as 22% believing SHA provides “free” care, reduce contribution uptake (MoH 2025).
• Health Burdens: Low literacy delays treatment for NCDs (39% of deaths), maternal care (530 deaths per 100,000 live births), and infectious diseases, with 20% avoiding care due to stigma around HIV (2.1% youth prevalence) and mental health (10% prevalence) (UNICEF 2025, NACC 2023).
• NHIF Legacy: NHIF’s 17% coverage and KSh 30.9 billion debt left 83% of informal workers uninsured, with poor communication fueling fraud (KSh 41 million in ghost claims) and mistrust (Auditor General 2023/24).
• Disparities: ASALs like Turkana face higher literacy barriers, with only 30% of households accessing health education, compared to 60% in Nairobi (KDHS 2022). Refugees and persons with disabilities (PWDs, 2.2% prevalence) report lower awareness due to language and accessibility issues.
• Economic Stakes: Low health literacy costs KSh 10 billion annually in preventable hospitalizations and lost productivity (Cytonn Investments 2025).

The Kenya Health Policy 2014–2030 and Community Health Strategy 2020–2025 prioritize health literacy to achieve UHC, with SHA leveraging digital tools and community outreach to bridge gaps.

SHA’s Framework for Health Literacy Campaigns

SHA’s three-fund model—PHCF, Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), and Emergency, Chronic, and Critical Illness Fund (ECCIF)—integrates health literacy primarily through PHCF:

• PHCF (Tax-Funded): Funds community-based health education, screenings, and outreach at levels 1–4 (community units, dispensaries, health centers), delivered by 107,000 Community Health Promoters (CHPs).
• SHIF (Contribution-Funded): Supports literacy on contribution requirements (KSh 300/month minimum) and benefits like maternity (KSh 10,200–30,000) and NCD care.
• ECCIF (Government-Funded): Promotes awareness of high-cost treatments (e.g., oncology, KSh 550,000/year) for chronic conditions, targeting 1.5 million subsidized households.

With 26.7 million registered and 8,813 facilities contracted (56% of 17,755) by September 2025, SHA uses digital platforms (*147# USSD, Practice 360 app, Afya Timiza app), biometric verification (rejecting KSh 10.7 billion in false claims), and partnerships with NGOs like AMREF Health Africa and UNICEF to drive literacy campaigns.

Specific Health Literacy Campaigns Promoted by SHA

SHA’s campaigns focus on enrollment, preventive care, and destigmatization, tailored to Kenya’s diverse needs:

1. Community-Based Education (PHCF)

• CHP-Led Campaigns: 107,000 CHPs conduct door-to-door education, reaching 1 million households by September 2025. Topics include SHA registration, contribution processes, and preventive measures for cholera and NCDs (MoH 2025).
• School Health Programs: CHPs deliver workshops in 5,000 schools, educating 2 million students on nutrition (26% stunting), hygiene, and adolescent health (15% teenage pregnancy), boosting vaccine uptake by 50% for HPV (MoH 2025).
• Vernacular Outreach: Materials in Swahili, Kikuyu, and Luo address low literacy, with radio campaigns reaching 70% of rural ASALs (GeoPoll 2025).

2. Digital and Media Campaigns

• Social Media and SMS: SHA’s @SHACareKe on X and SMS alerts via *147# promote benefits, debunking myths (e.g., “free” care). By 2025, 500,000 SMSs reached registrants, with 89% mobile penetration (KNBS 2023).
• Practice 360 App: Offers tutorials on accessing SHIF/ECCIF benefits, with 200,000 downloads aiding telehealth literacy (MoH 2025).
• Public Dashboards: sha.go.ke publishes benefit guides, increasing transparency for 26.7 million registrants.

3. Targeted Campaigns for Vulnerable Groups

• Refugees: Partnerships with UNHCR and IRC educate 100,000 refugees in Dadaab/Kakuma on SHA enrollment using alien IDs, addressing HIV (2.1% prevalence) and mental health (20% PTSD) (UNHCR 2024).
• PWDs: Integration with NCPWD provides accessible materials (e.g., braille) for 2.2% of the population, covering assistive devices (KSh 50,000/year).
• Women and Youth: Campaigns focus on maternal care (98% ANC uptake) and adolescent health, reducing stigma around 15% teenage pregnancies (UNICEF 2025).

4. Partnerships and Training

• NGO Collaboration: AMREF and USAID (KSh 2 billion grant) train 5,000 CHPs on health literacy delivery, focusing on NCDs and outbreaks (MoH 2025).
• Community Health Committees (CHCs): 5,000 CHCs facilitate forums, collecting feedback to tailor campaigns, with 20% addressing rural misconceptions (MoH 2025).

Data from MoH, SHA, and UNICEF reports (2025).

Impacts of SHA’s Health Literacy Campaigns

SHA’s campaigns have driven measurable outcomes:

• Increased Enrollment: CHP campaigns enrolled 1.8 million informal workers, boosting uptake by 20% in ASALs like Turkana (MoH 2025).
• Improved Health Outcomes: Education on maternal care increased ANC uptake to 98%, reducing MMR by 10% in Kisumu (UNICEF 2025). NCD screenings rose 20% due to awareness (MoH 2025).
• Reduced Misconceptions: Digital campaigns clarified contribution requirements, reducing “free care” myths from 22% to 15% (GeoPoll 2025).
• Economic Savings: Literacy-driven early interventions saved KSh 5 billion in preventable hospitalizations, per Cytonn Investments 2025.

GeoPoll’s survey shows 95% SHA awareness but only 13% optimism, with 22% of rural respondents unaware of campaign benefits, highlighting gaps.

Challenges in SHA’s Health Literacy Campaigns

Significant hurdles persist:

• Low Awareness: Only 30% understand SHA benefits, with rural ASALs (40% facility coverage) and refugees limited by language barriers (GeoPoll 2025).
• Funding Deficits: A KSh 4 billion monthly gap (claims KSh 9.7 billion vs. collections KSh 6 billion), with 900,000 informal contributors (5.4% uptake), limits campaign scale (MoH 2025).
• Digital Barriers: 42% internet access and 10% USSD glitches hinder digital campaigns in rural areas (KNBS 2023, GeoPoll 2025).
• Cultural Stigma: 20% avoid care due to HIV and mental health stigma, requiring targeted campaigns (KDHS 2022).
• Public Trust: X sentiment (70% negative) cites NHIF scandals (KSh 41 million ghost claims) and KSh 104.8 billion system irregularities, with users like @C_NyaKundiH questioning SHA’s outreach (OAG, March 2025).

Practical Guidance for Beneficiaries

To engage SHA’s health literacy campaigns:

1. Access CHP Education: Attend door-to-door or school workshops; contact CHVs for vernacular materials.
2. Use Digital Tools: Download Practice 360 or use *147# for benefit guides; follow @SHACareKe on X.
3. Join CHC Forums: Participate in community meetings to clarify SHA processes.
4. Register Promptly: Enroll via *147# or sha.go.ke to access informed benefits.
5. Seek NGO Support: Refugees and PWDs contact UNHCR/NCPWD for tailored literacy resources.
6. Report Gaps: Call 0800-720-531 or tag @SHACareKe for campaign access issues.

Future Outlook

SHA aims for 80% coverage by 2028, requiring 10 million informal contributors to close the KSh 4 billion gap. Planned literacy initiatives include:

• Vernacular Expansion: Scale radio and SMS campaigns to 90% of ASALs by 2026, funded by KSh 194 billion UAE loan.
• CHP Training: Train 50,000 more CHVs by 2027 for literacy outreach (USAID support).
• Digital Upgrades: Full e-GPS and DHIS2 integration by FY2025/26 for campaign tracking.
• Stigma Reduction: Partner with UNICEF for mental health and HIV campaigns by 2026.

WHO projects a 30% increase in health literacy by 2030, enhancing UHC uptake.

Conclusion

SHA’s health literacy campaigns—through CHP outreach, digital platforms, and partnerships—have reached 1 million households and 2 million students, boosting enrollment and reducing misconceptions. By addressing NCDs, maternal health, and outbreaks, these efforts save KSh 5 billion annually and advance UHC for 26.7 million registrants. Challenges like funding deficits, digital gaps, and mistrust demand scaled vernacular campaigns and transparency. As President Ruto stated in September 2025, SHA ensures “knowledge empowers health.” With robust investments, SHA’s campaigns can bridge literacy gaps, delivering equitable care for all Kenyans by 2030.

LULU MAISHA MAGIC PLUS SEASON 1 EPISODE 106 MONDAY SEPTEMBER 29TH 2025 FULL EPISODE