Kenya: For three years, four-year-old Josephine Wambui has been seeking specialised treatment and compensation for an erroneous procedure that was conducted at Malindi District Hospital.
Wambui has been suffering from a neurotic wound on her scalp following an IV injection, the infusion of liquid substances directly into a vein, which was erroneously done at the facility.
Her father, Goko Kimani, is distressed with the suffering his daughter undergoes every day. He uncovers the head of a rather quiet Wambui to reveal the wound as he describes the state of health of his daughter.
Mr Kimani, 53, says since the procedure in 2012, Wambui developed complications. "We had gone to the hospital for an injection and when doctors failed to find the vein on her hand, they had it done on her head. The following day, the right side of her head started turning black and then she lost her sight," he said.
Wambui did not recover and was taken back to the hospital where her wound was dressed free of charge. She was discharged after a few days with the assurance she would be okay, only for her to become paralysed. The wound also became bigger.
Her family sought compensation from the hospital but the journey has not been fruitful.
"We took the initiative of writing a letter through an advocate to compel the hospital to compensate Wambui so that she could seek further treatment but they ignored it," Kamau said.
According to the family, the hospital also refused to write them a letter to refer the case to another hospital.
For some time, the hospital management rejected the request and continuously denied their involvement in the case. However, they seemed to contradict themselves after a Dr Abdulhahman BH wrote a letter admitting accusations. The letter whose Ref no. is MAL/C.29/VOL.XV(218) states that the patient received IV live injection on the scalp at the hospital, which caused the wound. The letter further tells the relevant party to assist Wambui get treatment for the wound.
OTHER HOSPITALS
Kamau said the family had to start seeking treatment in other hospitals. "I took Wambui to Nairobi Hospital where grafting was supposed to be done but it was impossible due to the damage on her head," he said.
They then took her to Kenyatta Hospital but she never got better. Three years later, her state remains delicate. "Wambui's wound bleeds and oozes so much pus that sometimes I think she is going to die," said Kamau.
Malindi District Hospital Medical Superintendent Fatma Salim said she was not working at the facility when the incident happened. "I am aware of the case but I was not working here when it happened. It is therefore hard for me to handle the issue," she said on phone. Ms Salim added that since healthcare has been devolved, the family should approach the county government for assistance.
Kamau's family has been referred to India where Wambui can receive the required treatment at an estimated cost of Sh1.2 million.
Kamau however says he has no funds to take her daughter to India after he closed his businesses due to the high cost of treatment. The family is now seeking help from well-wishers to have Wambui treated.
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