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Health services in Kenya are provided by the government,
private individuals, churches and voluntary organizations. Kenyatta National Hospital is the largest and best equipped hospital in the country. It was expanded in the late 1960s to provide facilities for teaching medical students. Provincial hospitals are located in the main towns of the provinces. District hospitals and clinics provide basic health services to local areas. |
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| In all but the largest centres, there is a problem with underpaid doctors and nurses and a lack of drugs. Often, one doctor is responsible for many small clinics in a large area, and so can visit only once every week or two. Depending on the area, the Flying Doctor service, also known as AMREF, is available to airlift patients to a hospital or to bring a doctor in to help a patient in an emergency. |
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Midwives usually attend a childbirth. Birthing information is
passed from female family members to the mother-to-be. For the last 40 days of
her pregnancy, an expectant mother is waited on and pampered. Health care is expensive. Kenyans see a doctor only if they are extremely ill. Herbal and traditional remedies may be used for healing. Many Kenyans have used holistic medicine for years. |