Tag: Health news

Understanding the Social Health Authority (SHA) and its Impact on Kenyans

Posted on by Kibaki Muthamia

Starting October 1, 2024, the Social Health Authority (SHA) will take over from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), marking a significant shift in Kenya’s healthcare system.

This move is part of Kenya’s broader Universal Health Coverage (UHC) strategy, designed to ensure all citizens access essential healthcare services without suffering financial hardship.

Health Cabinet Secretary Dr. Deborah Barasa during the launch of SHA in Nairobi, Kenya.

Under the Social Health Insurance Act of 2023, SHA will manage three distinct funds:

  1. Primary Healthcare Fund (PHF)
  2. Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF)
  3. Emergency, Chronic, and Critical Illness Fund

All Kenyans who register for SHA will automatically be enrolled in these funds, and unlike the NHIF, there will be no need for physical membership cards.

Primary Healthcare Fund (PHF)

The Primary Healthcare Fund focuses on delivering essential health services at local facilities such as dispensaries and health centres.

As the first point of care at Level 2 and 3 facilities, patients will receive treatment free of charge, whether directly or through referrals from community health promoters.

One of the key components of the PHF is that no individual contributions are required for access.

The fund is sustained through government allocations and external grants, making it possible for all Kenyans to benefit from these services without out-of-pocket costs.

Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF)

The Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), which has attracted a lot of attention, is a critical part of the SHA but only one aspect of the broader UHC agenda.

SHIF is designed to cover inpatient services at Level 4, 5, and 6 healthcare facilities or accredited providers, once a patient has been referred.

Kenyans will contribute 2.75% of their monthly or yearly income to SHIF, regardless of whether they are salaried or in the informal sector.

The fund covers comprehensive inpatient services such as pre-admission evaluations, hospital accommodation, meals, nursing care, and general ward bed charges.

It also covers the management of illnesses during admission, with a maximum coverage of 180 days per household.

The Broader UHC Vision

The SHA is a cornerstone of Kenya’s goal to achieve Universal Health Coverage.

By integrating various health funds under one authority, the government aims to streamline healthcare access and make it more equitable for all citizens.

This approach also helps ensure financial sustainability in the long term, reducing the burden on individuals and increasing government responsibility in healthcare financing.

Study shows tattoos are linked to a 21% higher risk of lymphoma.

Posted on by Ozymandias

For years, regret was considered the most severe side effect of tattoos. However, my new study suggests there could be more serious concerns.

Tattoos have become a popular way to express identity or celebrate life milestones. Yet, we know little about their long-term health effects. Over the past decade, hazardous chemicals in tattoo ink have garnered attention in Europe. Research indicates that the ink injected into the skin does not remain there.

The body views tattoo ink as a foreign substance and attempts to eliminate it, triggering an immune response that results in a significant portion of ink particles ending up in the lymph nodes. However, the crucial question has remained unanswered: how does tattoo ink in the lymphatic system impact health?

To address this, my colleagues and I at Lund University, Sweden, conducted a large study to investigate whether tattoos might increase the risk of malignant lymphoma, a rare cancer affecting white blood cells (lymphocytes). This study was recently published in the journal eClinicalMedicine.

With over 20% of its population tattooed, Sweden is one of the most tattooed countries globally. It also has a strong tradition of maintaining population registers, like the National Cancer Register, which includes everyone diagnosed with cancer.

Our study involved everyone in Sweden diagnosed with lymphoma between the ages of 20 and 60 years from 2007 to 2017. For each lymphoma patient, we identified three random individuals of the same sex and age without lymphoma (the control group).

Participants completed a questionnaire about various lifestyle factors. Those with tattoos provided information about tattoo size, age at first tattoo, and tattoo colors. The study included 5,591 people (1,398 cases and 4,193 controls).

We found that tattooed individuals had a 21% higher risk of lymphoma compared to those without tattoos, even after accounting for smoking status and education level (both factors that may be associated with getting tattoos and developing lymphoma).

It’s important to remember that lymphoma is a rare disease, and the risk increase pertains to a very low baseline risk. According to the National Board of Health and Welfare, 22 in 100,000 people aged 20 to 60 years were diagnosed with lymphoma in Sweden in 2022.

Size Doesn’t Matter

The size of the tattoos did not seem to matter. What did matter was the duration—how long participants had their tattoos. The risk appeared higher for new tattoos (received within two years) and older tattoos (received more than ten years ago).

It’s not appropriate to make any recommendations based on this single study. More research is needed. However, this study highlights the importance for people with tattoos to be aware of potential health effects and to seek medical care if they experience any symptoms that may be related to their tattoos.

As the tattoo trend persists, it is a societal responsibility to ensure that getting tattooed is as safe as possible.

Clearly, more research is needed to understand the health implications of tattoos. My colleagues and I are currently completing parallel studies on two types of skin cancer and are starting new research to determine if there is an increased risk of immune-system-related conditions, such as thyroid disease and sarcoidosis.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Christel Nielsen, Associate Professor, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University.

Vaping Linked to Shrinking Testicles, Lower Sperm Counts, and Reduced Sex Drive

Posted on by Ozymandias

A new study has found that vaping or e-cigarette use can have negative effects on male reproduction. The study, published in the Spanish-language journal Revista Internacional de Andrología, found that the aerosol produced from e-cigarettes can cause shrinking testicles, lower sperm counts, and a reduced sex drive in male rats.

The study was conducted by researchers at Istanbul University in Turkey. They exposed male rats to either e-cigarette vapor, conventional cigarette smoke, or no smoke at all. After four weeks, the researchers found that the rats who had been exposed to e-cigarette vapor had smaller testicles and lower sperm counts than the rats who had not been exposed to any smoke. They also found that the rats who had been exposed to e-cigarette vapor had a reduced sex drive.

The researchers believe that the chemicals in e-cigarette vapor may be responsible for the negative effects on male reproduction. These chemicals can damage the cells in the testicles and interfere with sperm production.

The study’s findings are concerning, as vaping is a growing trend, especially among young people. The study’s authors call for more research to be done on the effects of vaping on human reproduction.

In the meantime, they advise people to avoid vaping if they are concerned about their fertility. If you are a smoker, they recommend quitting smoking altogether, as this is the best way to protect your health.

Here are some additional things to keep in mind about vaping:

  • Vaping is not a safe alternative to smoking. It still contains harmful chemicals, and it can also cause addiction.
  • Vaping can be harmful to the lungs. It can cause respiratory problems, such as asthma and bronchitis.
  • Vaping can also be harmful to the heart and blood vessels. It can increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.

If you are considering vaping, it is important to weigh the risks and benefits carefully. There is no safe way to vape.