In the heart of Kibera, one of Africa’s largest informal settlements, Dr. Dennis Kinoti is leading a quiet revolution. Armed with a wearable headset and a commitment to bring specialist care to underserved communities, Dr. Kinoti is redefining what healthcare delivery can look like in low-resource settings.
Dr. Kinoti, Clinical Service Lead at CFK Africa, oversees clinical services across three health facilities that serve more than 56,000 patients annually. From maternal care to chronic disease management, his team faces a daunting array of healthcare needs on a daily basis. But thanks to the Hippo Virtual Care platform and headset, they’re now equipped with a powerful tool to close the care gap.
At the core of Dr. Kinoti’s approach is the Hippo Headset – an augmented reality-enabled, voice-activated device that provides a “through the eyes of the clinician” experience. By wearing the headset, frontline health workers can stream real-time video and audio to remote specialists, enabling joint consultations even when miles apart.
“I had a child come to the facility with tonsillitis,” Dr. Kinoti recalls. “I called my pediatric ENT colleague Dr. Reuel K. Maina, showed him the patient’s throat using the Hippo Headset, and within minutes had a diagnosis and treatment plan.” This type of collaboration not only saves time but also ensures patients receive high-quality, specialized care without the need for costly or logistically challenging referrals.
Beyond clinic walls, the Hippo platform is proving invaluable for home-based care. In communities with ambulatory challenges, poor infrastructure or limited transportation options, patients often go unseen. Dr. Kinoti’s team now equips nurses with the Hippo headset to conduct remote consultations from patient homes. Live video feeds allow Dr. Kinoti or another clinician to observe, advise, and even direct physical exams remotely.
“Kenya’s network infrastructure isn’t perfect,” Dr. Kinoti admits, “but the headset is surprisingly adaptable. We take photos or short videos when live streaming isn’t possible, and review them back at the clinic.” In a country where digital infrastructure varies drastically, this flexibility is vital.
Read the full story at MyHippo.com.
