Parents want paralysed children in Busia urgently transferred to Nairobi
Some of the children whose legs were paralysed after receiving injections at Akichelesit Dispensary in Teso North Sub-County between April 7, 2013 and June 25, 2015. PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
Parents of the 30 children in Busia County who were paralysed after receiving an injection at a local dispensary have asked for their urgent transfer to Nairobi.
The parents asked Health Cabinet Secretary James Macharia to speed up the planned referral by the ministry to Nairobi Hospital for specialised treatment.
On Tuesday, Mr Macharia announced that the hospital had agreed to treat the children.
The delighted residents of Kakapel Village in Teso Sub-County said the announcement by Mr Macharia was a blessing after the county government failed to take action.
“We heard of the news on radio on Wednesday morning and are very happy that finally our children are going to get specialised treatment, attention and support we have been longing for as the affected families,” said Mr Chrispus Osia, whose daughter developed weak limbs after the injection.
Mr Osia’s daughter was among the group who received treatment at Akichelesit Dispensary at different times.
The parents said the affected children suffered from fever, common cold and malaria.
A medical expert explained that the paralysis could have been caused by an injection in the wrong part of the body or by the use of expired drugs.
NAIROBI HOSPITAL
Mr Macharia, while appearing before the National Assembly's Health Committee on Tuesday, said Nairobi Hospital had agreed to offer specialised treatment for the children at no cost.
“All the affected children will be taken to the hospital after the institution's management offered to help,” he said.
The limbs of the 30 children became weak after an injection at the dispensary.
Most of the children could barely walk on their weak legs while others had wounds oozing with pus.
The elder children could only walk with the aid of walking sticks.
In some cases, the parents claimed the children’s feet had started rotting away.
The parents had stormed Governor Sospeter Ojaamong’ office to demand action on the hospital and those responsible.
On Wednesday, the parents lauded the decision by the national government, saying they had lost hope that the local hospitals would help their children.
“We will be very grateful to the government if it will grant us this kind of help. Most of us have been shaken and spent sleepless nights not knowing what will befall our children,” said Ms Vivian Asere.
Other parents also noted that the issue had hurt their children’s education as most of them have not been able to go to school due to the pain, fever and weakened bones.
“The decision will go a long way in improving the lives of our children. Most of the local dispensaries have been handing us quite badly. There has been no communication between us and the doctors ever since,” said Ms Alima Orese.
County Health Minister Maurice Siminyu said the county would support the affected families to get the required medical attention to correct the condition.
“We are meeting the children and parents at Akichelesit tomorrow morning (Thursday) to identify those who need to make a trip to Nairobi Hospital as per the offer made,” the county executive noted.
