Social protection and COVID 19

The COVID 19 pandemic has brought about serious health, economic and social repercussions. Containing the pandemic and responding to the social and economic effects of  the pandemic has brought about serious challenges to our government. One of the major challenge in the response to the COVID 19 pandemic is the lack of medical cover for patients who have contracted the COVID 19 virus. This gap in financing health care during the pandemic has left hundreds of families shouldering the health burden of their family members. The pandemic has not only increased the burden of care for families, but it has also compounded the risk of sinking into poverty due to out of pocket payments for health services that are exorbitant.  There is need for Kenya to rethink its strategy on universal access to health. The government should establish health social protection programmes that cushion citizens against the adverse economic effects of this pandemic.