Orphan boy detained at mission hospital over Sh2 million bill

A 15-year-old orphan has been detained at Consolata Mission Hospital in Mathari, Nyeri County, since mid last month after he failed to raise a hospital bill amounting to more than Sh2 million.

Stephen Maina suffered injuries on his limbs and head when he fell from a tree and was taken to the facility after his condition worsened on July 16.

He underwent surgery to rectify the injuries. A team led by neurosurgeon Peter Wanyoike conducted two parallel surgeries to elevate his skull.

"After the fall, a compression occurred on his spinal cord, causing paralysis. The surgeons elevated the skull and fixed a metallic plate-a posterior fixation with screws," said Mureithi Mbae, a doctor at the hospital.

A team of neurosurgeons and Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) surgeons conducted the twin operations on July 23.

A medical report from the hospital indicated that he was diagnosed with reduced function of the upper limbs for about six weeks.

"The patient fell off a tree and suffered internal injuries on the upper side of the spine. He suffers cranial vertebral anomaly with cord compression," read the report in part.

The Standard Six pupil, who told The Standard he was an orphan living at Mother Hosenu Children's Home at Kandutura near Gichira in Tetu, said he had recovered but could not go back since his bill had not been cleared.

The hospital's Chief Executive Officer Bernard Mureithi said the boy had accrued bills amounting to over Sh2 million.

"The boy was brought by a female MCA who said the county government was to foot the hospital bills, but we have been following up in vain. We are at a cross roads since the medics who conducted the operation are asking for money, which we are not able to raise," he said.

extra daily cost

Mr Mureithi added: "The boy came in a very desperate condition since he was paralysed and we thought we could not refer him to Kenyatta National Hospital to save his life. We decided to call the surgeons first and the find ways of raising the fees and we have now hit a dead end since nobody is paying his fees, while we still owe the surgeons."

Mureithi said Maina's bill accrues an extra Sh1,100 every extra day he spends at the hospital.

"We are appealing to Kenyans of goodwill and other well-wishers to come in and help raise the hospital bill so that Maina can finally join his brother and sister and other colleagues at the children's home," he said.

When we visited the hospital, Maina narrated the tribulations that almost cost his life and nearly dimmed his hopes of becoming a neurosurgeon.

"I thank the hospital for accepting to admit me and offering the treatment. I am so happy and I am appealing for help from well-wishers," he said.

The boy said his grandmother lives in Kamuyu in Nyeri and she is not in a position to raise the fees.

"We were taken to the children's home since my grandmother could not afford to raise us up. I do not know my mum since we had been living with grandmother before our house was razed by fire and we were admitted to the children's home," he told The Standard.