Remote health facilities need specialists too, medics urge state

Luvay Hamid, a dental and implant surgeon, at the medical camp on Thursday / BRIAN OTIENO

A Mariakani old woman is helped on her way to a specialist in the medical camp on Thursday / BRIAN OTIENO

A Mariakani old woman is helped on her way out of the medical camp on Thursday / BRIAN OTIENO

An eye specialist checks a Mariakani local’s eyes on Thursday / BRIAN OTIENO

Medics from Mombasa have called for investment in specialist doctors in rural health facilities, especially in Kilifi and Kwale counties.

The medics on Thursday said many cases in the remote parts of Kilifi and Kwale counties need specialized medical care, but these services are unavailable and unaffordable to the locals who then opt to live with the conditions that later destroy their lives.

“Many patients have to travel from far flung areas just to see specialists. They have heart problems, diabetes, pressure, eye problems, name them. They need to see specialists but since there are few or no specialists where they are, they have to travel for their services and in most cases they cannot afford even that transport,” Yusuf Ezzi, a consultant physician and specialist in internal medicine, said on Tuesday.

Speaking during a free medical camp in Mariakani courtesy of Project Rise, Ezzi said the area has many cases of eye cataracts and blood pressure.

“Some do not even know they have these conditions. Some know but they cannot afford treatment or medication so they opt to live with the condition trying out traditional herbs,” Ezzi said.

He said most do not know the dangers of high blood pressure.

“We had a mother whose sugar level was so high it could not even be recorded. It was unrecordable. That is a very serious case. We stabilized here and organized a referral for her,” Ezzi said.

He said there is a serious need for specialist doctors in Mariakani and other remote areas of Kilifi and Kwale counties.

Luvay Hamid, a dental and implant surgeon, said most people living in the rural parts of Kilifi and Kwale counties are in abject poverty and cannot afford decent medical care, let alone the specialized medical care some of them require.

He said most specialists are also based in major towns like Mombasa and those with specialized needs cannot afford to reach them.

“That is why we decided to bring our services closer to them,” Hamid said.

The locals were able to access services like blood pressure monitoring, diabetes checking, general consultation, orthopedic consultation, general surgery consultation, Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) services, ophthalmology, dental services, among others.

“In the end, we are also giving out free medicine to the local people who have come for the consultations,” Hamid said.

He noted that most patients have high sugar levels and high blood pressure, with most not even knowing they suffer from such conditions.

“In the dental part, we have seen many of them having gum diseases, a few having some decayed teeth and some have fluorosis as well. We have advised them accordingly,” Hamid noted.

He said those with serious and complicated conditions have been referred to Mariakani subcounty hospital, our community hospital in Mombasa and the Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital.

“They are free to come wherever they want and wherever their preference is,” Hamid said.

A few of the locals had breathing difficulties and these were given priority.

Badi Sudi, a local, said he took advantage of the free medical camp to have his family checked.

“We have to protect our health. Healthcare is expensive nowadays even if you go to a public facility like Coast General. So, bringing such free services here is a blessing to us,” Sudi said.

However, he lamented the short amount of time they got during the medical camp, saying it was not enough.

“We urge our brothers to consider lengthening the duration during which we get services form them. This time we only had half-a-day,” Sudi said.

He said there are many residents who did not get an opportunity to access services offered by the Dawoodi Bohra Community.

Kaizar Khanbhai, a community outreach member for Project Rise in Mariakani, said Mariakani residents have a right to health, but most cannot afford quality healthcare.

“That is why the Dawoodi Bohra Community organized this free medical camp, under Project Rise, so the residents can at least get the quality healthcare they deserve,” Khanbhai said.

The medical camp targeted about 350 residents but the numbers surpassed that.

Sheikh Asgerali Khanbhai, secretary of the Mariakani Anjuman Hatimy, said they will consider expanding the camp in future so as to accommodate more people....

INSTANT ANALYSIS:

Healthcare in rural Kenya faces major hurdles like few facilities, staff shortages, and long distances, leading to poor outcomes. Most facilities in rural areas lack specialists, who are based in major towns only. Financial burdens restrain residents in rural Kenya from accessing quality healthcare.