PHOTO:

Remit4Health

By:

HARRISON MAINA

Posted:

Sep,26-2018 15:55:39

BOSTON---Many Kenyans in the diaspora know that a big chunk of the over USD2billion in annual remittances to loved ones back home helps pay for health care either at local clinics, public or private hospitals, or even overseas treatment, mainly in India or South Africa.

Most of these funds are sourced through fundraisers held in local churches and homes, as well as online go fund me accounts, especially when loved ones are facing medical emergencies that require immediate and costly treatment or surgery. Funds raised usually range from a few thousand dollars to as high as USD 40,000 to cater for the health needs of ailing relatives.

However, with all the love and zeal that Kenyans in the diaspora put towards healthcare for their loved ones back home, the quality of care received has not always met expectations. Reports of misdiagnosis, delayed treatment, lack of prescribed drugs or even lack of availability of hospital beds for patients requiring admission has left many in the diaspora dumbfounded and helpless as they are too far away to follow up and ensure smooth running of the process.

But now, the heavy burden is being slowly lifted from the shoulders of diaspora Kenyans, thanks to Remit4Health, a new company founded by Dr. Kebba Jobarteh, a Harvard educated, medical doctor born in Nairobi, Kenya to a Gambian father and Argentinian mother.

Together with his partners - Nthenya Mule, Laura Kelley and Ahmad Diba, Remit4Health is now providing the long missing link where for a few hundred dollars a year, you can sign up your loved ones to a specific care plan which guarantees treatment and support at one of the fastest growing hospital and clinic groups in Kenya, the Avenue Group.

Remit4Health also assigns a special Health Navigator to each patient to make sure that they are able to sign up properly, help with paperwork, schedule appointments, attend all medical appointments, and follow up with any after care instructions like taking medications, dietary plans and exercise. The Health Navigator's only job is to maximize health care treatment outcomes and maintenance of healthy habits for every person covered by Remit4Health.

This approach, according to Dr. Kebba, puts preventative care at the core of the company's strategy in order to forestall more serious conditions from happening.

"We are members of the diaspora ourselves and know, firsthand, how difficult it is to manage your loved ones' care from so far away. That's why we built this company. We have come up with a solution that makes it possible to rest assured that the money you send home for health will be used to ensure the best healthcare possible for your loved ones. Our team is made up of doctors, public health advocates, managers and innovators. We have designed a care model and crafted partnerships that make sure your loved ones are always accompanied by a health navigator and have access to high quality care when they need it," Kebba told Ajabu Africa News during a news conference attended by Mule and Diba, two other staff at the fast growing company.

With two major hospitals, one in Nairobi and the other in Kisumu as well as seventeen clinics around the country, Avenue Group boasts a total of 17 locations within Kenya where patients can seek very affordable, high quality medical treatment.

"Our service will give Kenyans in the diaspora the peace of mind they need by making sure that their loved ones, a grandparent, a parent,a sibling or even someone dear outside the family, have someone with them all the time, guiding them through the complex healthcare situation in Kenya. We will also help them apply for the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) and renew it when it expires to make sure they receive the most effective coverage possible," Dr. Jobarteh added.

Dr. Jobarteh praised the Kenyan Government's initiative to launch the NHIF insurance program that seeks to provide universal health coverage to all Kenyans in the country.

Dr. Kebba Jobarteh, CEO and Founder, Remit4Health. PIC BY COURTESY

The new Remit4Health plans are categorized into two classes---for those under 65 and for those over 65 years of age.

The under 65 plans provide comprehensive cover at Avenue Healthcare facilities, including unlimited outpatient consultations throughout the 17 clinics within the network all around Kenya, and inpatient cover up to a limit of KES 1,000,000 for admission at two of Avenue's first rate hospitals, one in Nairobi and one in Kisumu. Plans also include coverage for pre-existing conditions such as Asthma, Diabetes and Hypertension and many more.These plans range from around USD300-USD500 a year.

The over 65 plans, also known as the Senior Care Package, help look after the healthcare needs for your seniors including access to a primary care provider and high quality medication. They also provide fitness and nutritional assessments, activity and exercise advice and are customizable to suit elders of various levels of health and fitness.

"Our goal is to deliver efficient, timely, affordable and high quality healthcare for your loved ones not only when they need it, but for the long term. Weoffer a comprehensive range of services to suit all of our customers' health coverage needs," said Kebba.

Over the last 15 years the Kenyan community in Boston has been growing in leaps and bounds.

To make the new service more clear to Kenyans in the Diaspora as well as give them a chance to sign up, Remit4Health has planned an upcoming Diaspora tour starting in the Boston region from end of May 2018 to mid-June before venturing into other cities.

Last Sunday, Remit4Health conducted an informational session at Neema Presbyterian Church in Lowell where Kenyans present indicated keen interest with the service. According to Dr. Kebba, the company was thrilled with the great reception they received with several Kenyans signing up for various plans.

On Sunday June 17 the company directors will head the St. John's Anglican Church in Sutton Worcester for another session, followed by Faith Anglican Church in Bridgewater on Sunday June 24. They will also attend several other gatherings of Kenyans in the region including the upcoming Ajabu Awards and 10 year Anniversary celebration on July 28-29 to be held at the Hilton Boston/Woburn Hotel in Woburn.

According to Dr. Kebba, an initial information session they conducted at St. Andrews Catholic Church in Worcester revealed that many Kenyans in the region have been troubled by the hardship involved in ensuring loved ones back home get the right kind of medical care.

"That is why we decided to come back and speak with more Kenyans in the region. We welcome everyone to join us so we can answer any questions you might have about providing quality healthcare to your loved ones and help you decide on whether our service is right for you" he added.

In the meantime, any interested Kenyan anywhere in the diaspora can reach out to the company for more information by calling at: +1 917 267 7454 or logging on to the website at:https://www.remit4health.com/

Schedule Summary

Sunday June 17:
St. John's Anglican Church in Sutton
145 Main St, Sutton, MA

Sunday June 24, 2018
Faith Anglican Church in Bridgewater
1095 Main St, Bridgewater, MA
Time: 11am

Saturday July 28-29
3 Annual Ajabu Awards & 10 year Anniversary
Hilton Boston Woburn Hotel
2 Forbes Dr, Woburn, MA 01801
Time: 2pm

Source:

AJABU AFRICAN NEWS