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Since the Social Health Authority (SHA) replaced the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) in October 2024, healthcare access has expanded significantly across Kenya. Lodwar, the capital of Turkana County, has several health facilities that accept SHA coverage, ensuring residents can access affordable healthcare services. Below is a comprehensive overview of the major health facilities in Lodwar town and the surrounding areas.
Health Facilities in Lodwar Accepting SHA
| Health Facility Name | Location |
|---|---|
| Lodwar County Referral Hospital | Lodwar Town, Turkana Central |
| Lodwar Hills Hospital Medical Centre | Nawaitorong Road, Near Governor’s Office, Lodwar |
| Lodwar Medical Centre | Lodwar Town |
| Lodwar Tumaini Medical Services | Lodwar Town |
| Kakuma Mission Hospital | Kakuma, Turkana West |
| St. Elizabeth Lorugum Health Centre | Lorugum, Turkana North |
| Nakwamoru Health Centre | Nakwamoru |
| Lokitaung Sub-County Hospital | Lokitaung, Turkana North |
| Katilu Sub-County Hospital | Katilu |
| Lopiding Sub-County Hospital | Lopiding |
| Lokori Sub-County Hospital | Lokori, Turkana South |
Understanding SHA Coverage in Lodwar
The Social Health Authority operates through three distinct funds that provide comprehensive healthcare coverage to registered members. The Primary Healthcare Fund covers services at levels 1, 2, and 3 facilities including dispensaries and health centers. The Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) covers services at levels 4, 5, and 6 hospitals including specialized care, surgeries, dialysis, and maternity services. The Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund provides coverage for life-threatening conditions and chronic diseases.
All public health facilities in Turkana County, including those in Lodwar, are mandated to accept SHA coverage. Private facilities like Lodwar Hills Hospital have also partnered with SHA to provide accessible healthcare services to registered members.
Major Healthcare Providers in Lodwar
Lodwar County Referral Hospital
As the primary referral facility for the entire Turkana region, Lodwar County Referral Hospital serves as the cornerstone of healthcare delivery in the area. This Level 4 facility functions as a referral center for over 90 health centers and dispensaries across Turkana County and serves a catchment population exceeding one million people, including patients from neighboring countries like Uganda and South Sudan.
The hospital has undergone significant upgrades in recent years, including the installation of a CT scan machine, modernization of the maternity ward, establishment of an oxygen manufacturing plant that produces 2,240 liters per week, and the addition of dental services with four dentists and two dental chairs. The hospital fully accepts SHA coverage for all its services including inpatient care, outpatient services, surgical procedures, maternity care, and specialized diagnostics.
Lodwar Hills Hospital
Located on Nawaitorong Road near the Governor’s Office, Lodwar Hills Hospital is a private healthcare facility that has partnered with SHA to provide quality medical services. The hospital was established to address the community’s need for quality, affordable, responsive, and available healthcare services in Turkana County.
Services offered include general medical care, specialist consultations with visiting consultants including gynecologists and pediatricians, comprehensive family planning services ranging from natural methods to long-term solutions, optical services including eye defect diagnosis and prescription glasses, maternity services, and dental care. The facility accepts SHA coverage for most of its services, making quality private healthcare accessible to registered members.
Diocese of Lodwar Health Facilities
The Catholic Diocese of Lodwar operates an extensive network of health facilities throughout Turkana County that accept SHA coverage. These include Kakuma Mission Hospital, a Level 4 facility providing comprehensive services including surgery, maternity care, and HIV/AIDS treatment. The diocese also operates health centers at St. Elizabeth Lorugum and Nakwamoru, along with 19 dispensaries spread across the county serving hard-to-reach communities.
These faith-based facilities handle approximately 40% of the HIV/AIDS workload in Turkana County and continue to offer services under SHA, having previously worked with NHIF.
How to Access SHA Services in Lodwar
To access healthcare services at Lodwar’s SHA-accepting facilities, residents must first register for SHA through the USSD code *147#, the Afya Yangu website at www.afyayangu.go.ke, or through assisted registration at healthcare facilities. Registration is determined through means-testing to establish contribution capability, ensuring affordability for all income levels.
Once registered, members can visit any SHA-contracted facility for services. Primary healthcare services at dispensaries and health centers are covered under the Primary Healthcare Fund without additional payment. For services at Level 4 hospitals and above, SHIF contributions are required, with comprehensive coverage for various medical procedures.
Improvements in Healthcare Access
Turkana County has made significant strides in healthcare access, reducing the average distance to the nearest health facility from 50 kilometers in 2013 to just 20 kilometers. This has been achieved by converting 39 dispensaries into health centers and building 90 new dispensaries. The county has also rehabilitated all seven sub-county hospitals and distributed ten ambulances, 15 motorbikes, and 100 bicycles for community health workers.
With SHA’s implementation, Lodwar residents now have enhanced access to quality healthcare services across multiple facilities, ensuring that financial barriers no longer prevent people from seeking necessary medical care.
