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New country, new job, new house, new school… and what about a doctor? Fastrack brings you the lowdown on how to register, where to go in a medical emergency, and who, they say, are some of the best doctors in town. There is endless “stuff” to think about when you arrive in a new country. In addition to the obvious things, you need to find out where the good shops are, where to have your hair done, where to exercise, and very importantly, where to take the kids (or yourself) if anyone falls ill, or even just for a check-up or vaccinations.It generally falls into the spouse’s hands to find out this information and on top of everything else, it can be a little intimidating! Well, fear not. There are excellent doctors and good hospitals in Nairobi, from expatriate paediatricians to highly qualified Kenyan specialists. The easiest thing to do is to register with a GP and a paediatrician if you have children; you will then know exactly where to go and what you will be paying for your medical needs. The doctors will also advise you on what vaccinations you and your children might need as this varies from country to country. Do remember though, that private medical care in Kenya is very expensive so you’d be prudent to make sure you have medical insurance in place. Should you wish to obtain medical insurance in Nairobi, contact J.W. Seagon & Co. who represent a number of international and local insurance companies and will be able to give you competitive quotations as well as advice on which policy best suits your needs (see contact details at the bottom of the page). To find out exactly what to do to register with Physicians in Nairobi, I spoke to the nursing staff at various doctors’ offices. They all said there isn’t an official registration process, you basically just ring up for an appointment. It is a good idea to drive to the various hospitals and doctors’ surgeries in your area though, to obtain all their contact details and to find out which credit cards they take and which medical insurance companies they have a direct debit system with (important in the case of hospitalization). You can also pre fill in forms at the doctors’ offices so that they have your details in hand. Most doctors also have a house call service and emergency numbers for out of office times and it is important to get hold of these details by calling in. Should you have a major emergency, drive straight to the accident & emergency centre of either the Aga Khan Hospital or Nairobi Hospital, or in the case of children, Gertrude’s Garden Children’s Hospital in Muthaiga. Finding a good GP or family doctor is sometimes a bit hit or miss. Apart from being a good doctor, you need someone who you click with, who makes you feel comfortable, and preferably someone who is not located on the opposite side of town from where you live. Word of mouth, as well as lists provided by your Embassy are the best starting point in your search for a family doctor. The following is a list of recommended doctors in Nairobi, by no means comprehensive but a good start if you are new to the country. Also listed are main hospitals and ambulance & evacuation providers. Gertrude’s Garden Children’s Hospital – Ph. 020-3763474/7, 2775000 Dr. Marie-Louise Cantamessa – Karen Surgery, Ngong Rd. Dr. Kassam – Family medicine centre, Aga Khan |
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Other articles in fast tracklocation, location: the Nairobi lowdown 14 September 2009 nairobi's british-based preparatory schools 15 July 2009 basic vaccination schedule for kenya 15 July 2009 fishing rods, clarinet reeds and stirrups 03 April 2009 |
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