For Ali Atemba, a retired civil servant from Matungu Sub-County in Kakamega County, access to medical care could have come with a devastating financial cost. After undergoing surgery, Atemba says the Social Health Authority (SHA) covered about KSh 201,000 of his treatment expenses, allowing him to focus on recovery instead of worrying about how to settle the bill.
Highlights
- SHA covered about KSh 201,000 of Ali Atemba’s treatment costs.
- His medical care included tests, scans, X-rays and surgery.
- Atemba spent about a week in hospital before being discharged.
- He recalls families selling livestock and land to pay medical bills.
- The retired civil servant says SHA has eased the financial burden of healthcare.
Main Story
SHA Covers Surgery Costs
Ali Atemba, a retired civil servant and farmer from Matungu, Kakamega County, says SHA played a major role in helping him access treatment when he needed surgery.
According to Atemba, the cover catered for several stages of his medical care, including screening, laboratory tests, scans, X-rays and the operation itself.
He says the total amount covered by SHA came to approximately KSh 201,000, significantly reducing what he would otherwise have had to pay from his own pocket.
After the procedure, Atemba remained in hospital for roughly one week before doctors discharged him.
He is now recovering and has returned to overseeing activities on his sugarcane farm.
Healthcare Without Selling Property
Atemba says his experience has made him appreciate the importance of accessible health insurance, particularly for families that may not have enough savings to handle major medical emergencies.
He recalls a time when seeking treatment could force families into difficult financial decisions, including selling livestock or parcels of land to raise money for hospital bills.
Even after selling valuable property, he says some families still struggled to raise enough money to meet the full cost of treatment.
For Atemba, having medical expenses covered has meant being able to concentrate on getting better rather than worrying about how to clear a large hospital bill.
His Experience With NHIF
The retired civil servant also reflected on his experience with the former National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF).
During his years in public service, NHIF contributions were automatically deducted from his salary. However, he says the system did not always cover every medical expense, leaving patients to finance some costs themselves.
That experience, he says, showed him how quickly healthcare expenses can become a burden for ordinary households.
Atemba believes broader healthcare coverage can make a significant difference, especially when patients require expensive procedures.
Back to Supporting His Family
Beyond paying his medical expenses, Atemba says access to treatment has allowed him to return to his daily responsibilities.
As he recovers, he continues supervising activities on his farm and remains able to contribute to the wellbeing of his family.
He also says reliable healthcare coverage is important because medical needs do not only affect one individual. His spouse and children can also require treatment, making affordable healthcare an important part of protecting the family’s finances.
‘SHA Is the Way to Go’
While acknowledging that there are still areas that need improvement, Atemba says his personal experience has left him grateful for the assistance he received.
For him, the ability to undergo surgery without facing the full financial burden has demonstrated the value of having a health cover that can step in when families need it most.
Atemba believes continued improvements to the system could make healthcare more accessible and prevent families from having to sacrifice their property simply to afford treatment.
For families facing a medical emergency, the difference between receiving treatment and falling into financial distress can sometimes come down to whether the right support is available when it matters most.
