During the month‑long “Mwezi wa Baba” initiative, more than 750 in‑patients were discharged from Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital without paying any medical bills, providing immediate relief to households facing high treatment costs.

The same facility attended to over 7,500 outpatients under the programme, with many beneficiaries receiving help to register with the Social Health Authority (SHA) so they can continue accessing services.

Patients such as Peter Mwango saw their projected bill of roughly Sh100,000 reduced to Sh9,600 before SHA covered the balance, allowing him to leave the hospital owing nothing.

Another beneficiary, Gideon Ihare, received treatment after a minor accident and was discharged without charge, noting that the programme’s publicity has driven longer queues at the hospital.

Coast General’s acting chief executive, Dr Mohamed Hanif, confirmed that patient volumes surged after the programme’s launch, prompting the hospital to reorganise services and introduce queue‑management measures.

The county is also paying SHA premiums for patients unable to afford contributions, ensuring they can obtain care for conditions ranging from malaria and hypertension to cancer, surgery and maternity services.

To cope with the influx, Mombasa County hired 447 contract health workers, including 116 deployed to Coast General, covering roles from doctors to support staff.

The temporary contracts have also provided employment to previously unemployed workers, such as support staff member Kibwana Said, who secured a three‑month role after a period of joblessness.

Some beneficiaries expressed concern about the programme’s limited duration, fearing they may again struggle with medical expenses once the free‑care month ends.