The announcement by Social Health Authority Chief Executive Officer Robert Ingasira that teenage mothers will have to pay for insurance premiums has elicited mixed reactions.

Ingasira revealed that expectant teenagers would be subject to a means-testing to determine if they require financial assistance from the government or not.

This revelation marks a shift from the previous Linda Mama program, where all pregnant women were eligible for free maternity services, regardless of their financial ability.

Under SHA, pregnant underage children will be issued with 'temporary ID' different from their parents' number within the Integrated Healthcare Information Technology System (IHTS).