From Tuesday morning, my day began with exhaustion and urgency. I had traversed the whole night sleepless, consumed by worry over my wife’s condition and hoping that the hospital would offer timely care. I queued early at SHA BFC Hospital in Kapenguria, expecting that the situation would be handled promptly.
Instead, I was directed to the SHA office in Makutano to update beneficiaries’ details. I was assured that once this was done, everything would be smooth. Despite my fatigue and my spouse’s deteriorating condition, I rushed to Makutano. The officers there were efficient, supportive, and the update was completed immediately.
With renewed hope, I returned to the hospital at 4 p.m., only to be turned away again.
In my desperation, I contacted the SHA customer care service, seeking clarity or intervention. Unfortunately, this too was in vain—I was directed back to the same office I had already visited and where the issue had been resolved earlier.
Later, at 8 p.m., despite yet another attempt, I was still denied access to services. By then, the exhaustion and distress were overwhelming. Valuable hours had slipped away while my spouse’s condition remained unattended.
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With no remaining options, I rushed to Shallom Springs Hospital. At 9:45 p.m., I met Dr. Namuya, who immediately recognized the seriousness of the situation and classified it as an emergency. His empathy, professionalism, and swift action brought instant relief. He stabilized my spouse first before addressing any logistical matters.
Through Dr. Namuya, I realized that SHA, when supported by dedicated and compassionate professionals, is indeed the best medical care teachers have. His conduct reflected the true spirit of what SHA is meant to deliver.
This ordeal underscored a crucial truth: SHA must migrate its system comprehensively—including dependants—so that no patient is turned away because of delays in digital updates.
In moments of serious medical need, treatment must always come first. Life should be valued above any monetary or administrative requirement. Bureaucracy can wait—crisis cannot.
By Hillary Muhalya
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