My experience as relates to medicals in Nairobi

[longing4usa]

Congratulations to those of you in the house who scrapped through into September. Who would have imagined that Africa would fail to go current?!

I have outlined my experience for the benefit of the Kenyans doing CP in Nairobi as relates to the medical.

To book an appointment visit any of the panel doctors at Sarit Centre personally.

Telephone bookings are not accepted.

The total cost of the medical including examination and vaccination is variable and will be determined by your age, sex and vaccination history

The clinic we attended required upfront payment for the booking.

The clinics are quite busy as you will soon tell from the crowded corridors and waiting rooms, so book your appointment well in advance of your visa interview appointment.

We were given a day to return for the first stage which covered providing of samples and attendance at a near by imaging centre for the x rays. This process took about 4 hours most of which were spent waiting. So carry a good book to read!

On the following day we underwent the physical examination which took about half an hour per person excluding waiting time. Blood samples were drawn during the examination for analysis.

We were given an appointment for week later for vaccinations. You are not vaccinated until the results your blood work are out.

On the vaccination day we were vaccinated within say an hour of arrival. Well punctured we retired to a nearby restaurant to give ourselves a well earned lunch time treat!

A week later we collected our sealed envelope with our results and a warm but dire warning that opening the envelope is grounds for instant disqualification.

You also receive a set of your x-rays and a copy of your vaccination report.

Preserve the copy of your vaccination report as it will be required in the event of your successful immigration to the States for school admission for kids. It also provides base line information for vaccinations requiring more than one dosage.

Overall the entire medicals process involves at least three days of your time, oodles of patience and a budget of approximately USD 400 per person.

 

[dnk1]

Congratulations to those of you in the house who scrapped through into September. Who would have imagined that Africa would fail to go current?!

I have outlined my experience for the benefit of the Kenyans doing CP in Nairobi as relates to the medical.

To book an appointment visit any of the panel doctors at Sarit Centre personally.

Telephone bookings are not accepted.

The total cost of the medical including examination and vaccination is variable and will be determined by your age, sex and vaccination history

The clinic we attended required upfront payment for the booking.

The clinics are quite busy as you will soon tell from the crowded corridors and waiting rooms, so book your appointment well in advance of your visa interview appointment.

We were given a day to return for the first stage which covered providing of samples and attendance at a near by imaging centre for the x rays. This process took about 4 hours most of which were spent waiting. So carry a good book to read!

On the following day we underwent the physical examination which took about half an hour per person excluding waiting time. Blood samples were drawn during the examination for analysis.

We were given an appointment for week later for vaccinations. You are not vaccinated until the results your blood work are out.

On the vaccination day we were vaccinated within say an hour of arrival. Well punctured we retired to a nearby restaurant to give ourselves a well earned lunch time treat!

A week later we collected our sealed envelope with our results and a warm but dire warning that opening the envelope is grounds for instant disqualification.

You also receive a set of your x-rays and a copy of your vaccination report.

Preserve the copy of your vaccination report as it will be required in the event of your successful immigration to the States for school admission for kids. It also provides base line information for vaccinations requiring more than one dosage.

Overall the entire medicals process involves at least three days of your time, oodles of patience and a budget of approximately USD 400 per person.[/QU

Thanks for your sharing your experience. Did you need your second NL for the medicals?? how long did it take before you received your 2nd NL?? which doctor in particular did you visit in Sarit?

 

[longing4usa]

By the time I made the appointment I did not have the second nl although by then I knew my interview date having called KCC to confirm. What appeared important is that you know your case number and provide some form of idenitifcation being either your passport or ID card. The clinic has copies of the medical forms. By the time I appeared for the second appointment I had received the second nl. In answer to your question you don't need the second nl to start your medicals since the clinic has the medical forms. KCC dispatched the letter on 19 June 2008 and I received it on 1 July 2008. I saw Dr Meyerhold.

 

[nanii]

Thanx for the great information.Do they take vaccines done anywhere else.i was planning to use ma medical aid n start the vaccines well in time for fear of the many jabs n if i dont make it am sure they r important for ma life.
About how many days in advance is someone supposed to book for an appointment for medicals.
We wish u all the best.
Other guys pliz share ur experiences pliz.

 

[longing4usa]

Thanks Nanii. I am certain vaccinations from elsewhere are acceptable. Just ensure you have your records when you see the examining doctor. At the clinic we were able to get an appointment within a week. Take note that the process from examination to receiving report was two weeks. You will need to factor this into plans with due regard to your interview date.

Any Kenyans out their who wish to share their interview experiences........?

 

[dnk1]

Thanks Nanii. I am certain vaccinations from elsewhere are acceptable. Just ensure you have your records when you see the examining doctor. At the clinic we were able to get an appointment within a week. Take note that the process from examination to receiving report was two weeks. You will need to factor this into plans with due regard to your interview date.

Any Kenyans out their who wish to share their interview experiences........?[/QUOTE

I would like to share my medical experience in Sarit. First of all i dont know why all the doctors are allocated on the same floor. Secondly that place is usually so crowded and uninviting. The first day i went to book my appointment i was not amused. It is so confusing which doctor is who and what office coz i think two doctors share the same front office. One of the doctor who is usually indicated on the 2nd NL is no longer at Sarit. I think doctor Kitulu. They are only three. I wanted to book Doctor Meyerhold but by the time i got there after 3 the office was closed. I think their office close early. When i went to the other office, the ladies who were there front, one of them put me off very badly. She told me i have to go by the cue in a bad tone and all i was i doing was enquiring how to go about booking an appointement.. For heavenly sake there was no cue. Everybody was seated down and they were waiting for the doctor or something. Mine was simple just booking an appointment. To safe my ego i just sat down and tried to understand how the cue was going. When i realised there was no cue and everyone was waiting to be seen by the doctor while others were still coming and been helped while i sat there helplessy wasting my precious time, i woke up and went to the other lady. i told her i want to book an appointment. She just took the appointment calendar and asked my name and how many people. It was on a tuesday and she gave me the coming week on Friday.It was as simple as A, B, C. I wanted an earlier date but she said they are usually so booked so i just went by it although i was feeling like coming back the following day to book with Doctor Meyerhold because of their poor customer service. But i l just let it just go. i was given a slip of what to bring on that day. They require the 2nd Nl of which if you know your case number is okay you can always bring your 1st NL so that they can cope the case number as it appears and your names, passport if not available birth certificate or form of an identity, medical forms if you have received if not they can make for you a copy, the amount they will tell you according to age, and two passport photos 2 by 2. I was given a 9am appointment. I had to ask even which doctor will i be seeing coz i was not sure. I was told the name of the doctor. So on that friday i was there on time and i gave out what they needed and i was told to wait in the other room. Already there were so many people. i waited and waited till about 10.30 is when i was called to go and see the doctor. The doctor was nice and apologised to the delay and confusion which was taking place stating that most of the staff were new on that day. You could tell there was alot of tension going on that day. I was examined and my blood sample taken by the doctor. The next step was to go to the lab. I was to give two samples one for urine and the other for stool. I was only able to give out the one for urine. They should be telling people that you need to give stool when you go for the medical because some people only use bathroom for stool in the morning and evening. If i knew i would have waited in the morning but i was told to go home with the container and i could take it back anytime before 3pm on that same day or on saturday they are open till 11am. or is it 1pm i dont clearly remember. Then i went back and was given the form to take to the diagnostic testing for xrays not so far away from where they are. I left there around 1pm.so i left and fortunately when i went home and ate i tried and tried and was able to get stool and i hurriedly took it before they closed at 3pm. Then i passed by the fornt office again and gave me the chat of what vaccines i needed. i had other chat of the vaccines i had taken and it was just not making sense i had to take more coz of time period. There is way they argue if you have one shot you have to take another one within certain time period.. oh well i didnt argue. i asked if i could take them in another place and said it is always advisable to take them there but the cost was too much. i told her i have my doctor and i can always take them in the clinic where they have my records. she said it is okay all i have to take is a prove from the doctor i have taken them and the date taken. I passed by the diagonistic place and took my xray. she had to take twice as she said the first one was not clear. There was no cue there and i finished very fast. The following week i took my vaccines and i got a letter from my doctor. Then i took them and again i was summoned that i needed more.. I could not believe it. I didnt argue coz i knew if i did they would not complete my medicals. I went back to my clinic and got the more shots and i took my card and this time i was just tired and i was like if i am told i need more i will just blow up!!!!!!!!!!! I waited for a while they typed the last report and i was given my results. Thanks God i was done with that office. I was also given a copy of my xrays which you keep but you are not required to take to the embassy. The medicals envelope is sealed and cannot open and i wondered why they dont give the patient their copy. All they are supposed to tell you is if the results are okay. Some places like in the US, they give the patients they copy to keep for future records. And out i walked smiling with my envelope and that pertains to my medical experience.

 

[TNDV2008]

... When i went to the other office, the ladies who were there front, one of them put me off very badly. She told me i have to go by the cue in a bad tone and all i was i doing was enquiring how to go about booking an appointement...

This always pisses me off. I remember I came back home in 2001 and some lowly receptionist tried to give me an attitude @ a Canadian Embassy, while trying to be nosey as to why I was there on that day...I told her "whatever my business was, it was above her skills". She got into fits, and I told her to get her "supervisor's boss"...and I flashed my Canadian passport in her face, she kept quiet like a church mouse.

... So on that friday i was there on time and i gave out what they needed and i was told to wait in the other room. Already there were so many people.

Aaaaarghhhh! talk about poor appointment management

... The next step was to go to the lab. I was to give two samples one for urine and the other for stool. I was only able to give out the one for urine. They should be telling people that you need to give stool when you go for the medical because some people only use bathroom for stool in the morning and evening.

That's odd, I never did the stool test (not even sure if I did urine test either) ....but then again, my medicals were done in Montreal, Canada

... The medicals envelope is sealed and cannot open and i wondered why they dont give the patient their copy. All they are supposed to tell you is if the results are okay. Some places like in the US, they give the patients they copy to keep for future records.

No, they are not supposed to "tell you". Whatever is found about you, is for the Officer's eye's only...Same thing hapenned to me too.


Nonetheless, If you are healthy and free of HIV, TB you will soon find out by getting a visa. If you are HIV+ then I suspect they might deny you.

Good luck!

 

[dematra]

No, they are not supposed to "tell you". Whatever is found about you, is for the Officer's eye's only...Same thing hapenned to me too.

All you have to do is ask for a copy of your records. Ask at the begining or at the end of the medical screening - as long as it's before you walk out the door with your sealed envelope.

 

[TNDV2008]

All you have to do is ask for a copy of your records.

<<Ahem!>> I stand corrected...nonetheless, I did not fret about medicals since I knew my existing health status......and I understand not everyone knows, or is comfortable knowing

 

[ireb]

Need details of doc,s to make appointment ( am from Uganda)

HI,

all, thanks alot for the help. i have been looking for this information. thanks thanks alot guys.

Okey, am from Uganda. am goind to have my medical examination in Nairobi. i would like to do it before my NL letter arrives (march or April 2009). Please can some one help me with any information i can use to get in touch with a doctor, on phone or email or through thr official website.

some one help me. Right now am working so i would like to travel when i have established whats on ground like, whether thr is space for me to be examined.

Help help help

ireb