What is Linda Mama?

Linda Mama is a free health insurance coverage for pregnant women in Kenya, launched by the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) in 2016. It aims to provide quality and affordable health services to expectant mothers and their infants for six months after delivery. It is part of the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) initiative that seeks to achieve health for all Kenyans. Linda Mama means “protect mama” in Swahili, and it covers ante-natal, post-natal and neo-natal care for pregnant women and their babies for six months after delivery.

According to a report by Pulitzer Center, this program has contributed to reducing maternal mortality rates in Kenya by providing essential care and support to pregnant women.

Here are some key points about Linda Mama that you may want to know:

• Linda Mama covers antenatal, post-natal and neo-natal care for pregnant women and their babies. Ante-natal care includes screening for HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, anemia, and other conditions. Post-natal care includes pain relief, vitamin A, iron and folate supplements, family planning methods, and immunization. Neo-natal care includes monitoring the growth and development of the baby after birth.
• Linda Mama benefits all pregnant women who are Kenyan citizens or residents, regardless of their income or location. Pregnant women can register for the program using their national identification cards or antenatal care records. They can also register through mobile phones by dialing *263# and following the instructions.
• Linda Mama has a cover limit of KES 200,000 per pregnancy per beneficiary. This means that if a woman has more than one pregnancy during the six-month period, she will only be covered for up to KES 200,000 per pregnancy. If she has more than one child during the six-month period, she will only be covered for up to KES 200,000 per child.
• The program has a network of over 1,500 hospitals across the country where pregnant women can access the services. Some of these hospitals are public facilities, such as Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret or Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi. Others are private or faith-based facilities that have partnered with NHIF to offer the services.
• Linda Mama provides various incentives and support mechanisms for pregnant women and their families. For example, it waives user fees at national level for health services such as antenatal visits, delivery fees, postnatal visits, neo-natal visits, immunization doses, family planning methods, etc. It also provides long lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs), iron and folate supplements, analgesics (painkillers), vitamin A tablets (for eye health), etc.

How to register Linda Mama

There are several ways to register for Linda Mama, depending on your preference and convenience. Here are some of the options that you can choose from:

• Mobile phone: You can register for Linda Mama by dialing *263# on your mobile phone and following the instructions. You will need to select option 1 “Registration,” then option 2 “Free Maternity,” then choose your language, then enter your national ID number or antenatal care record number.
• NHIF registration portal: You can register for Linda Mama online by visiting the NHIF portal and filling out a form with your personal details, such as your ID number, passport number, or alien ID. You will also need to upload a scanned copy of your ID or passport and a passport-size photo of yourself.
• Contracted health care providers: You can register for Linda Mama by visiting any accredited public health facility or any faith-based or private hospital that has partnered with NHIF to offer the services. You will need to present your national ID card or antenatal care record card at the reception desk.
• NHIF service centres: You can register for Linda Mama by visiting any NHIF service centre located in all Huduma centres countrywide. You will need to bring your national ID card or antenatal care record card and fill out a registration form.

Once you have registered for Linda Mama, you will receive a membership card that you can use to access the services at any of the over 1,500 hospitals across the country where pregnant women can get quality healthcare for six months after delivery. Some of these hospitals are Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret and Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi.