3rd week
My eyes continue to be opened to deeper and deeper levels of poverty here. As the financial effects of COVID continue to depress this economy, health care resources are affected also. The national governmental insurance costs from 150-500 shillings a month (roughly $1-$4.00 a month). Many of my Kenyan patients are unable to afford this amount. NHIF is covering less and less procedures pushing the cost of health care onto the family and their tribe. The government is delinquent in making payments to the hospital which pushes the hospital debt greater and greater. Bills aren't paid and hospital suppliers are refusing to provide needed operating room supplies. I have performed a number of cancer biopsies but reports are delayed. NHIF approval which used to take 48 hours now takes weeks. Cancers which were manageable are growing. The picture below is of a patient that sought local herbal remedies for his cancer because medical care was unaffordable. Patient with nasopharynge