NHIF scope for children born out of wedlock

I am a public servant working for one of the government agencies in the Head Office and have been a member of the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) for 5 years now. I have a child born out of wedlock who is 6 years old. Can I enroll this child under my NHIF insurance cover?
JH, Dodoma

The scope and qualification for enrollment of children under the National Health Insurance Fund is stipulated under the National Health Insurance Fund Act [Cap. 395 R.E 2015] and the National Health Insurance Fund Regulations, 2002 as amended by Government Notice No.11 of 2010.

The NHIF Act and its regulations do not discriminate children born out of wedlock. Members of NHIF are covered with their spouses and children and/or dependents up to four irrespective of whether the child enrolled by NHIF member is born within or out of wedlock. Section 3 of the Act gives a very broad definition of a child that covers a child born out of wedlock and any child to whom a member stands in loco parentis who has not attained the age of 18 years. Therefore, disqualification for enrolment as a child under NHIF insurance cover is the age of the child and not the existence or non-existence of the lawful marriage between the parents of the child.

The second limitation is the number of children or dependents who are already registered with NHIF. The law limits the number of the children and/or dependents one member can enroll under his name to four. If a member of the Fund has already enrolled 4 children and/or dependents, she/he cannot enroll another child or dependent whether the additional child is born within or out of wedlock unless the member seeks and obtains leave of the Board of NHIF which has power to waive the conditions set under the NHIF Act.

To conclude, if you do not have more than 4 dependents registered with NHIF, this child of yours is eligible for registration.