Hospital discharges victims of awry jab
Director of Medical Services Dr Nicholas Muraguri (left) with Nairobi Hospital Chief Executive Dr Cleopa Mailu address journalist on August 7, 2015 at Nairobi Hospital before the departure of patients who had received damaging injections in Busia County. PHOTO | JAMES EKWAM |
What you need to know:
- Minister pledges to take action in treatment case.
- Last lot of minors who suffered muscle damage after injection are treated and discharged.
The last batch of the children who were admitted to Nairobi Hospital following a damaging injection in Busia have been discharged.
Thirteen walked out of the hospital accompanied by their parents around 9am on Thursday, some still limping or favouring one leg.
But six-year-old Cate Ateng’e had to be wheeled out because she had undergone surgery to repair damaged nerve and muscle.
She is also the only one among the 14 children who will have to return to the hospital for physiotherapy to help her to regain the use of her left leg.
Nairobi Hospital’s chief physiotherapist, Ms Jessica Shiraku, was optimistic that the girl would heal completely.
“We are sending her home to recover from the surgery after which we will bring her back to start on the physiotherapy that we have been performing on the other children,” she said.
The other children will continue with physiotherapy in Busia and are expected to have recovered fully in nine months, she added.
FULL EXPLANATION
But Cate’s father, Mr Emmanuel Omonya, who was at hand to pick up his daughter from the hospital, was anxious whether she will ever walk properly again or not.
“I feel very bad that this happened. Although the doctors at Nairobi Hospital have done a good job, I am not sure that she will regain full use of the damaged leg,” said Mr Omonya.
He said he would like a full explanation on what happened to his daughter from the people responsible for the injury, but shied away from stating whether or not he would sue.
A total of 30 children from Busia County fell sick and were taken to Nairobi Hospital after receiving injections that left their legs paralysed.
MUSCLE DAMAGE
The injections were administered at the Akichelesit Dispensary in Teso North that is run by the Busia County government. Their parents said they developed difficulties in walking on the day they received the injection.
According to doctors at Nairobi Hospital, the injections were administered badly and weakened a nerve, causing muscle damage.
“We treated the children by sending electric impulses to the nerve to revive it, as well as administering exercise to re-educate the damaged muscles.
“The children also received medication to manage the pain,” said Dr Osoro Mbui, the accidents and emergency coordinator. Sixteen of them were discharged last week.
The matter sparked national outrage as parents demanded compensation and threatened to sue the county government. According to Health Cabinet Secretary James Macharia, his office is still awaiting a report from the Nursing Council on the circumstances surrounding the bizarre happening.
“If this is found to be a case of criminal negligence then of course the person responsible will be taken to court,” he said.
