Kenyans urged to seek medication in good time to avoid health complications

Kenyans have been told to desist from the tendencies of not visiting hospitals for medication in good time until they fall very sick.

Doctors Terrance Baker and Modesta Vesonder said this was a great concern since the majority of Kenyans, especially those from low and middle–income families tend to wait until their health conditions worsen before they get to hospitals.

They said it was importantly necessary for such citizens to be sensitized on the need to seek medication from qualified health providers earlier immediately they fall ill.

This they said will ensure quick medical attention and recoveries among patients.

Baker is a specialist in Family Medicine, Geriatrics, and Emergency Medicine.

He is based in Baltimore, Maryland in North America and a director at Katani Hospital located in Athi River, Machakos County, while Vesonder is a specialist in Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, she is the CEO of Katani Hospital.

“Many patients in event that they fall sick even for minor illnesses that could be taken care of early, they stay at home only to be rushed to hospitals when the illnesses become severe. They are brought in in either trollies or ambulances,” Vesonder said.

They addressed reporters at Katani Hospital on Tuesday.

Vesonder said it was important for patients to seek medication whenever they feel symptoms of sicknesses to avoid complications. This she said will also reduce mortality rates.

“My advice to all is that when you feel sick, go see a doctor. Get wellness checks so that the illness doesn’t progress from minor to major that could have been taken care of. It is easier to take care of the problem when it’s smaller than when it’s severe,” she said.

She also advised Kenyans to desist from visiting local chemists for drugs without prescriptions whenever they fall sick.

“There is a tendency of most Kenyans getting to chemists for self-medication without diagnosis whenever they fall sick.  They don’t see physicians or doctors before taking drugs,” Vesonder said.

Vesonder said many a time such medications aren’t indicated what the person is suffering from.

“I urge you all to see medical doctors for diagnosis and advise on what drugs and where to get them,” she said.

She gave an example of a scenario where some patients were positive for Covid – 19 but stayed home for several days claiming they were suffering from Malaria.

“They self-medicated for Malaria medication yet they had Covid – 19. When they eventually ended up at Katani Hospital, they were very sick but we handled the situation. They are all alive,” Vesonder said.

Vesonder said mortality rates among Kenyans can reduce if patients seek medication in good time and from qualified health services providers and accredited facilities.

“If we can get over self–medicating and diagnosis, we can do well as a country. We need all to be well and strong so that the community can be strong too. Some people don’t believe in seeing doctors while they fall sick, this is dangerous. Seek medication from doctors and pray, don’t pray and sit at home,” she added.

PRESCRIPTIONS

Baker said patients should take their drugs according to doctors’ prescriptions.

They should also take recommended diets according to their nutritionists’ advice.

He said patients should take their drugs according to doctors’ prescriptions warning that drugs’ adherence failure had lots of side effects, it could also lead to stroke.

Baker said patients should seek medication at Katani Hospital since it is a ‘one-stop shop’ with modern facilities, equipment and qualified personnel.

He said the hospital was accredited with NHIF hence affordable and accessible to Kenyans of all sorts of lives.

“The hospital officially opened in October 2018 offers both inpatient and outpatient services. It has all services including ICU, Citi scan, theatres, emergency rooms, x- rays, maternity rooms, with qualified and experienced surgeons, specialists, doctors, nurses, among others. It is NHIF accredited and operates 24/07,” Baker said.

He said the hospital admits patients from all over the country.

"As we speak, there are patients admitted at the facility from Western, Nairobi, Kiambu, Mombasa and Nyanza."

Edited by D Tarus