Here is the article about healthcare in Nairobi. This is one of the subject everybody is highly interested, especially if you plan to move to Nairobi. As a person who had significant amount of personal experience in this area:), I am more than happy to answer any question you might have.
you can also access this articlehttp://www.expatarrivals.com/kenya/nairobi/healthcare-in-Nairobi
Healthcare in Nairobi
As is the case throughout Kenya, the standard of healthcare in Nairobi varies considerably depending on the type of treatment needed and the type of hospital one can afford.Unfortunately, life expectancy is just 63 years for the average Kenyan citizen. The major factors contributing to this include a high rate of maternal and infant mortality, the fact that 1.5 million people are living with HIV/AIDS, poor sanitation standards, and very few doctors to support the country’s rapidly growing population.
Expats will find the standard of healthcare throughout Kenya to be below par. Foreigners are advised to look at private healthcare options and to also look into the specialty areas of each hospital. Despite the fact that Nairobi is the capital of Kenya and a hub for Africa, due to financial and organisational discrepencies, the city's hospitals fall short when compared to international standards.
However, in most instances wealthy Kenyans and expats will never notice any problems related to healthcare in Nairobi, as there are a wide variety of private medical facilities in the city, which provide a good standard of healthcare and are continually improving.
Furthermore, the living conditions among expats is far higher than that of most locals and they therefore experience fewer health issues. As long as expats follow some basic health recommendations and ensure they are in possession of a comprehensive health insurance policy they are likely to be fine during their stay in Nairobi.
While both public and private healthcare services are available in Nairobi, the overwhelming majority of expats tend to go with the private option.
As is the case elsewhere in the world, private healthcare in Nairobi is considerably more expensive than the public healthcare services available. Most expats are willing to pay a higher price in exchange for better quality, trustworthy healthcare where they will receive treatment from well-educated and experienced doctors. Furthermore, the laboratory services and waiting times for medical test results tend to be more favourable at the private establishments.
At both private and public hospitals in Nairobi, doctors and medical staff are almost always proficient in English. However, the conditions in public hospitals tend to be very poor. There are many instances where public hospitals will suffer from insufficient supplies, unsterile and unsanitary conditions and structurally poor facilities. Furthermore, labrotory services at public hospitals are slow and have on numerous occasions been criticised for providing inaccurate test results. Finding specialist doctors can also be difficult in Nairobi’s public hospitals and waiting lists to see specialists are often painfully long.
Public healthcare in Nairobi
There are a number of different types of public medical facilities in Nairobi. Government-run dispensaries are the first point of contact for the public. These facilities are run and managed by nurses and provide the most basic out-patient services for simple illnesses such as the common cold and flu, skin conditions and the initial treatment of malaria. If the nurses at the dispensary cannot deal with a problem the patient will be referred to a health centre.
There are also private community clinics which are usually run by nurses, but there are also a small number which are run by clinical officers or doctors.
Government-run health centres are run and managed by a clinical officer. Health centres in Nairobi provide primary care, and tend to focus mainly on preventative care such as childrens vaccinations and tend to fall short when it comes to curative treatment.
Like in each of Kenya’s eight provincies, Nairobi’s public provincial hospital is the referral point for all the smaller district hospitals in the city. Provincial hospitals are regional hubs which provide the most specialised care in the public sector and include intensive care treatment, life support and specialist consultations.
Finally, there are two national hospitals in Kenya which offer the best standard of treatment with regards to public healthcare. These are the Moi Teaching and Refferal Hospital (MTRH) and Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH)
Private healthcare in Nairobi
Most expats prefer to use private healthcare facilities in Nairobi. Even though the cost is much higher than treatment at public facilities, the quality of service tends to be better and doctors tend to be more experienced. Furthermore, the hygiene levels and quality of equipment are incomparable.
There are plenty of private hospitals, medical centres and individual practices in and around Nairobi. The major challenge for expats will be to decide where to seek treatment. Expats will need to consider convenience and which facility best aligns with their priorities and health needs.
Depending on whether one is moving to Nairobi with a family or alone, it is not always necessary to have a full health insurance plan in order to take advantage of private facilities or doctors, as day-to-day treatment can be surprisingly
affordable. That said, it is highly recommended that expats settling in Kenya invest in private health insurance to cover them for more complex procedures and expensive evacuations.
When taking out health insurance it is important that expats are aware of the terms of their coverage. For example, those that plan on travelling outside Kenya will need to ensure they also have travel insurance, as a policy that is specific for Kenya will not cover them in the event of an accident elsewhere in Africa.
Medicines and pharmacies in Nairobi
There are plenty of pharmacies in Nairobi. Most major hospitals also have pharmacies attached to them, and are open 24/7.
There are also many privately run pharmacies that can easily be located in shopping malls as well as on the main high streets in Nairobi.
Most generic medicines are easy to find at Kenyan pharmacies. Expats will find that most medicines are imported. Generally, medicines are cheaper in Kenya than in a lot of other expat destinations. However, it is still best to have an insurance policy that covers all medication expenses.
If expats suffer from a specific health condition, they should bring ample supply of their medication into Kenya with them along with a doctor’s note stating that the medication is for their personal use.
Basic health tips for expats in Nairobi
There are some very basic health tips which expats should bear in mind while residing in Kenya. These should assist in avoiding some of the main health issues experienced by visitors to the country:
- Take precautions against insect bites to help prevent malaria, dengue fever and sleeping sickness. There are sporadic outbreaks of dengue fever in Kenya.
- Always wear long-sleeved tops and trousers at night, especially when outside, and make sure to repeatedly apply insect repellant.
- Always sleep under mosquito nets.
- Take anti-malarial drugs as medical prophylactics especially if travelling outside of Nairobi. Please note, due to the high altitude of Nairobi, malaria is not a high risk in the city; however, one should still take some caution when out, especially at night.
- Don’t drink tap water or consume raw produce that could have potentially been washed using tap water. Also avoid ice in drinks.
- Make sure to keep flies away from food, and wash your hands often.
- Never use rivers for swimming purposes or lakes to avoid parasitic infections.
- Be careful around all pets, and especially wild animals due to rabies.
Emergency medical services in Nairobi
Private hospitals in Nairobi provide emergency medical services in Nairobi. However, in some instances it may be best to get the patient to the hospital by car or private taxi, as waiting times for ambulances can sometimes be long.
For those without private medical insurance, the St Johns Ambulance provides emergency medical treatment in the event of an accident and can be reached on +254 22 444 44.
The general emergency number in Kenya is 999 and this should be dialled in the event of an accident which requires an ambulance.
List of private hospitals in Nairobi
The Nairobi Hospitalwww.nairpbihospital.org
This is a privately-owned hospital in Nairobi, which has both in-patient and out-patient facilities. The Nairobi Hospital has a full 24-hour laboratory, X-Ray facilities and ultrasound services, as well as experienced doctors on duty 24/7. It is run by European standards and accepts most major insurance policies. There is a pharmacy on site.
The Aga Khan University Hospital Nairobiwww.agakhanhospitals.com
This is regarded as a very prestigious hospital, not only in Kenya, but throughout the African continent. Both the hospital and the university are highly respected. The staff are highly qualified and well trained, as are the nurses on duty. There is also a Doctor’s Plaza in Nairobi’s city centre which is run by the Aga Khan University Hospital where patients can visit specialist doctors.
Nairobi Women’s Hospitalwww.nwch.co.ke
This is a relatively new hospital in Nairobi, which is part of a fast-growing chain of hospital. There are facilities located in Hurlingham, Ngong Road, Ongata Rongai along Magadi Road. The latest facility is the 24-hour outpatient centre located within Kitengela town. This group of healthcare facilities specialises in women's health issues and only offera services for women. Specialist areas include maternity, radiology, gynaecology and oncology care units.
Gertrude Children’s Hospitalwww.gerties.org
This is the only hospital in Nairobi which specialises in the care of children. Gertrude has clinics in Lavington and Muthaiga. The hospital provides comprehensive children’s healthcare unit and outpatient services, as well as dental services and a child development centre.
Karen Hospitalwww.karenhospital.org
This is a private hospital and located in Karen on Langata Road. Karen Hospital offers a well-equipped emergency unit which provides a 24-hour service, specialised doctors, laboratory services, dental treatment, a baby clinic and an on-site pharmacy.
No comments:
Post a Comment