Kenya’s landscape, great wildlife and high temperatures all year round make it a popular travel destination for foreigners looking for a unique living experience in Africa. The country’s health system has enhanced significantly in recent years.
Public healthcare systems
Basic medical centers and pharmacies offer basic public medical services that are funded by the government. The state drug chain KEMSA delivers medication and medical care to state pharmacies. For road injuries patients nurses use proper dressing instruments set. The major challenge in Kenya for public healthcare is they don’t have all surgical instruments. They have basic instruments like small surgery instruments set, medium surgery instruments set and major surgery instruments set.
Private healthcare systems
Kenya’s private health sector has become increasingly important in recent years. Private hospitals of diverse standards are situated in most main urban centers, comprising coastal beach resorts. Nairobi generally has private hospitals, while Mombasa has a few options. However, expatriates should be aware that the cost of private health care in Kenya could be prohibitively high without extensive health insurance support. In private hospitals, the instruments are of high quality. On private hospitals you can also find the best dentist who have high-quality dentist instruments set.
Pharmacy
Kenya’s medical system has been plagued by poor quality and counterfeit medicines. In big cities, expats find a large number of small pharmacies on the roadside. Although these pharmacies are cheaper than large reputable chain pharmacies, they are also more prone to counterfeit drug problems, and their employees are less likely to receive training or get adequate medical advice. Most alternative drugs must be acquired in Kenya. However, brand names can be different in each country. Foreigners should therefore know the generic name of the drug before starting their trip. It is also improbable that you will have any main complications if you bring prescription drug to Kenya. It is recommended that foreigners bring the original packaging and a copy of the recipe with them.
Life in Kenya exposes expatriates to many health risks. Diseases transmitted by mosquitoes such as fever, virus and malaria are very common. In some areas, altitude sickness or heat-related illness can also be dangerous. Foreigners should make sure that they drink enough water and avoid excessive sun exposure. If food safety is an issue, it’s best to avoid tap water and pasteurized dairy.
Routine vaccination and additional vaccination against polio, rabies and hepatitis are recommended, especially if foreigners plan to spend time in rural areas. Immigrants who move to Kenya must be vaccinated against yellow fever and have a certificate with them when entering or leaving the country.
Emergency services
Emergency services in Kenya are not available 24/7. This is the major problem in healthcare services. Because there are not many fast-reacting vehicles, the response times of ambulances are usually slow. Even with ambulances, Kenyan ambulances are not always equipped with ambulances that meet foreign standards. Some serious health problems require medical evacuation. This can also be very expensive and expatriates should make sure that their health insurance provides adequate coverage. The emergency medical phone in Kenya is 999 and is operated by an English speaking operator. In an emergency, foreigners should ensure that they bring the contact details of their nearest embassy.
Since independence in 1963, Kenya has faced significant socio-economic and health challenges. Tuberculosis, HIV / AIDS and malaria are the main causes of morbidity and mortality in Kenya. The Kenyan government has worked to establish a health care system that can provide quality health services to the country’s population. In Kenya, health services are provided through a network of more than 5,000 health facilities across the country. Kenya is a country of around 37 million people and has worked to build a health system that can effectively deliver quality health services to its population. Access to health care is very diverse across the country and depends on many factors, although there are large differences between rural and urban communities, as well as between wealthy and poorer elites.
Maternal Health Challenges
Maternal mortality remains high in rural Kenya. Rural women in Kenya need to improve access to maternal health services. Many factors contribute to high maternal mortality in rural Kenya, including lack of access to high quality care and qualified obstetricians, high levels of HIV / AIDS, and unmet family planning needs. According to UNFPA, many women wait until the middle and late stages to benefit from it, although almost 90% of women in rural Kenya are looking for prenatal care. In addition, the majority of women in rural Kenya gave birth outside of a medical facility, and these women often did not have the care of a qualified obstetrician. To over-come this issue the government should supply the maternal care instrument set and delivery instruments set to the rural areas hospitals.