Activist Hanifa Adan has revealed the difficulties she faces obtaining surgery for her deteriorating ears, highlighting gaps in Kenya’s healthcare system.
In a post on X, Adan said she has been moving between hospitals since last year, as her condition worsens.
“I could wake up and don’t hear anything at all,” she wrote.
Adan explained that major private hospitals are charging over Ksh 500,000 per ear, totaling more than a million shillings for both.
“I have insurance, but apparently the surgeon’s fee and the anesthetist’s fee have to be paid in cash upfront, about Ksh 300,000 on its own, separate from hospital charges,” she said, questioning the purpose of her insurance coverage.
She further noted that a missionary hospital does not accept her AAR insurance, though she was told SHA might cover the procedure.
However, she remains uncertain, as the specialist has yet to be flown in.
Another hospital she visited has only been prescribing medication without addressing the need for surgery.
Even the private wing at Kenyatta National Hospital does not accept her insurance.
"The second option, a missionary hospital, doesn’t accept AAR insurance either, but they say SHA can cover the procedure fully (I highly doubt it). The only issue is they’re still waiting for the specialist to be flown in. The third hospital just keeps giving me medication instead of addressing the surgery. And the fourth ,the private wing at KNH also doesn’t take AAR," she stated.
The activist warned others to take care of their health.
“On a serious note, take care of health, it’s messy out here,” she added.