Tanya is a social media influencer, and her life is fast-paced. She earns her income online by posting content, creating videos, or even entering into a partnership with a company to promote their products. Consistency is key i the online world, or else the audience will lose focus or even leave completely.
In Nairobi, Lillian’s boutique opens at dawn. She built this boutique from scratch, and people have come to admire her business. Some people visit her boutique online or even in person. People return to her boutique because of the personal touch that Lillian brings to her business.
There is also Janet, a consultant with multiple clients in different organizations. She earns her income independently, but this income is determined by the number of projects that she is able to complete and deliver to the clients.
These women are a reflection of the bigger picture in Kenya. There are women who are building their own careers, earning their income, and even supporting their families. There is, however, one challenge that these women face. These women are vulnerable to illness, which could interfere with their income at any time.
For Tanya, illness could mean that her online audience will lose focus or even leave completely. For Lillian, illness could mean that the boutique will be closed temporarily, leading to lost sales. For Janet, illness could mean that the projects will not be completed, leading to lost income.
This is similar to the situation in the country, where the level of insurance penetration is low, at about 2.3 percent of the GDP. As a result, a lot of people end up paying their medical expenses out of pocket, thereby depleting their savings and interfering with their business and other plans.
For a woman with her own ventures and skills, therefore, a problem with health would translate to a problem with finance.
Experts, therefore, view the purchase of health insurance as a sound investment, not a cost, since it would protect one’s savings in the case of a medical emergency and allow the entrepreneur and the professional to remain focused on their work without the worry of medical expenses.
As International Women’s Day is marked, the discussion on the empowerment of the female population is increasingly including support systems that help them achieve
For many women today, protecting their health is closely linked to protecting their careers, businesses and families. When health is secure, it becomes easier to keep building, working and planning for the future.
Women interested in learning more about available health insurance options can visit their nearest Equity Bank branch or contact Equity Insurance Group for more information on different health cover plans.
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