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Kenya Expat Health Insurance

Kenya, officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is located on the east coast of Africa and shares borders with Tanzania, Uganda, Sudan, Ethiopia and Somalia. Kenya has an approximate population of 40 million people within a land area of 580,000 square kilometers. With a varied environment that includes pristine beaches, rainforests, mountain ranges, savannah and wildlife parks, Kenya has become one of the top travel destinations in Africa and it has a well developed tourism sector. Kenya is ethnically a very diverse country with numerous indigenous tribes and the majority of Kenyans are proficient in both English and Swahili.

Kenya Healthcare System

Kenya was formerly part of the British Empire’s East Africa Protectorate until independence was proclaimed in 1963. Traditionally a world renowned exporter of tea and coffee, in recent years Kenya’s economy has become more reliant on services and tourism in particular, with the sector now accounting for approximately 60 percent of GDP. With impressive annual growth year on year, in 2007 Kenya’s government announced an ambitious program called ‘Vision 2030’ which outlines strong growth and development which it is hoped will propel the Kenyan economy alongside some of the more powerful Asian countries.

The public health care system in Kenya is structured in such a way that individuals requiring advanced or complicated treatment are referred from primary level facilities to national hospitals. Dispensaries are the first point of contact for many patients and these facilities are staffed by nurses and local health workers. They provide basic consultations and can treat illnesses such as the common cold and straightforward cases of malaria. Health centers are medium sized units capable of catering to areas with populations of approximately 80,000 people. They are staffed by a number of nurses and health officers and can provide in-patient and out-patient services, maternal and child health and some pharmaceutical services. Sub-district and district hospitals are the main coordinating centers for the smaller units while eight provincial hospitals and two main national hospitals act as the final referral point for all patients. These hospitals can provide emergency care and some specialist treatments.

Health care standards in Kenya are extremely low and, as such, many from the expatriate and traveler community seldom use public facilities as they are generally underfunded, lack modern equipment and are short staffed. The Kenyan Government has struggled to provide sufficient funding to deliver adequate health care to the country’s citizens and has been unable to control diseases and viruses common to equatorial east Africa. Private medical facilities such as the Nairobi, Mombasa, Mater and Aga Khan Hospitals are able to accommodate most patients but for complex medical situations evacuation to top of the range facilities in South Africa would be necessary. As such, expatriates and short term visitors are advised to purchase private medical insurance which contains a provision for emergency medical evacuation if required.

Several health indicators accurately portray the current state of the Kenyan health care system. The infant mortality rate is 52.29 per 1,000 live births, well above the European average. Life expectancy at birth is just 59.5 years which is worryingly low. It is estimated that 60 percent of the population have access to clean water and just 31 percent of the population use clean and sanitized facilities. Kenya is also experiencing a generalized HIV/AIDS epidemic. Infection rates have fallen from 10 percent of the population in the late 1990s to an estimated 6.3 percent in 2009 and despite this decrease, Kenya ranks as the 11^th worst infected country in the world. 1.5 million Kenyans are thought to live with HIV/AIDS and the disease is responsible for the deaths of approximately 80,000 people annually.

Situated along the equator, Kenya’s climate is generally hot throughout the year although temperatures vary according to the elevation. The coastline receives the most rainfall while the arid regions to the north experience the hottest daytime temperatures. Numerous diseases associated with the tropics can also be found in Kenya. Expatriates are advised to seek medical advice at least four weeks prior to departure and a number of vaccinations are recommended, including those against bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, typhoid fever, malaria, rift valley fever, schistosomiasis and rabies. The most common cause of illness among expatriates and visitors to Kenya is bacterial diarrhea. Regularly washing hands, avoiding ice and mains tap water and eating freshly cooked food is advised and medical advice should be sought immediately if you suffer from diarrhea. Malaria is commonly found outside of the capital city Nairobi and in areas of elevation less than 2,000 meters. Standard precautionary measures against insect bites can reduce the risk of contracting malaria.

Expatriates should be aware of the high crime level and threat of terrorism in Kenya. Many foreign embassies advise against travel to poor parts of Nairobi as crime levels there are extremely high. Opportunist crimes such as car-jacking are common in all areas of the country while incidents of armed robbery and kidnapping are on the increase. The border region with Somalia is considered particularly unsafe. Terrorist groups operating from inside Somalia frequently cross the border to carry out kidnappings and attacks including areas frequented by expatriates and foreign visitors. In recent years, aid workers and two nuns were kidnapped close to the Somali border and in light of current tension between the two countries travel to this area is not advised. There is also a significant threat of piracy in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. Persons intending to go yachting or sailing should remain in secure maritime lanes and adhere to well traveled routes.

Kenya Expat Health Insurance

Medical facilities in Kenya are basic and many facilities are below the high standards many expatriates come to expect. In the event of a serious medical situation an emergency evacuation to South Africa may be necessary. Expatriates and their families are strongly advised to purchase Kenya expat health insurance that contains a provision for international medical evacuation. Our plans can be tailored to give you the coverage you need while in Kenya, expat health insurance plans can often provide a range of optional benefits including maternity, dental, evacuation coverage and more. For more information on Kenya expatriate health insurance or to receive a free international medical insurance quote, contact a Global Health Insurance adviser today.

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