By Violet Auma
In the shadows of Kenya’s bustling healthcare debate lies a growing outcry: The Social Health Authority (SHA), once hailed as a savior for affordable healthcare, is leaving countless Kenyans trapped in a financial and emotional quagmire. From unpaid hospital bills to inaccessible treatments, the promised safety net is unraveling, leaving vulnerable citizens like one-year-old Taraji Miles clinging to hope.
Taraji Miles: A Heartbreaking Case of Neglect
In Shikhambi, on the outskirts of Kakamega Town, Elizabeth Temesi cradles her frail daughter Taraji, tethered to a dwindling oxygen supply. Born with a congenital heart defect, Taraji’s survival hinges on expensive weekly medications costing Ksh 12,000, oxygen at Ksh 3,000 per week, and frequent use of inhalers. Despite being diligent with her SHA payments, Elizabeth finds herself cornered by a system that seems indifferent to her plight.
“Even as we speak, the oxygen is finished,” Elizabeth tearfully recounts. “I don’t know how my baby will survive.”
Diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary edema, and two holes in her heart, Taraji urgently needs surgery in India—a procedure costing Ksh 1.5 million. But the road to raising this amount has been fraught with disappointment. Friends and family once managed to scrape together Ksh 500,000 for a hospital bill at Mater Hospital, but the well of goodwill is now running dry.
SHA: A System in Question
Elizabeth’s story is emblematic of broader issues plaguing SHA. Designed to alleviate healthcare costs, the authority now faces allegations of inefficiency, leaving beneficiaries stranded. Elizabeth shares how her medical cover funds are depleted, and despite being up to date with her SHA contributions, she’s told to pay cash for treatment.
“I go to hospitals with heart specialists, but it’s costly to pay out of pocket,” she says. Her ordeal at Tenwek Mission Hospital—where Taraji spent two months on oxygen—is a grim testament to the inadequacy of SHA’s support.
The Domino Effect on Families
Elizabeth’s predicament underscores the cascading impact of a failing healthcare safety net. Once a seller of second-hand clothes, she had to abandon her business to care for Taraji, who suffers up to seven seizures a day. Unable to pay rent, Elizabeth and her children were evicted, forcing them to seek refuge with her parents.
“My prayer is that Taraji gets well and lives a normal life like other kids,” Elizabeth implores. Her voice breaks as she urges Kenyans to intervene and contribute towards her daughter’s medical needs.
A System at the Crossroads
Critics argue that SHA has become a raw deal for taxpayers, with numerous Kenyans unable to access the services they diligently pay for. Hospitals are reportedly reluctant to honor SHA claims, pushing patients into financial despair. As public pressure mounts, the government faces an urgent call to address the system’s inefficiencies and restore faith in its ability to serve the nation.
For families like Elizabeth’s, time is running out. Without immediate intervention, the cost of inaction could be measured not just in shillings, but in lives.
How You Can Help
To support Taraji Miles, contributions can be made via the family’s fundraising platform.
Every donation brings her one step closer to the life-saving surgery she desperately needs. Together, Kenyans can help bridge the gap left by a faltering system and give Taraji a fighting chance at a normal life.
