Boy risks losing hand in another case of negligence

By Munene Kamau

A seven-month-old boy could lose a hand following a botched operation at a hospital. The boy, Mozamil Abas Aliyow, is said to have been injured after a nurse tied his hand to take a blood sample but forgot to untie the knot.

His mother, Sadiya Ker, on noticing the band, assumed it was part of the medication and did not bother to remove it. This resulted in constriction of veins and arteries.

Now the child’s hand is rotting and may be amputated at Embu Provincial Hospital where he is admitted if the situation worsens. This comes on the backdrop of rising claims of lives and limbs being lost due to negligence of medical practitioners countrywide.

Aliyow was suffering from a stomach complication when he was taken to the Moyale Hospital on May 23.

"She called for help but it was too late since the skin had already rotten," said his uncle, Mr Maalim Mohamed.

The baby was moved from Moyale to Embu last week.

Embu hospital Medical Superintendent Charles Muli confirmed the child had suffered "entire skin loss" on his right hand but declined to comment on the cause.

Muli said the boy could undergo a skin graft only if the nasty wound heals.