Children suffer the most as cerebral palsy hits villages

Driving through a number of villages in Umande Mukogodo, Laikipia County, the peace and calm, can fool you that all is well. Livestock graze peacefully among the lush fields as children play merrily. But there is a darkness that hangs over the villages.

While some children are playing in the fields happily or looking after cattle, a significant number is confined in their houses due to life-changing disabilities. The cases are so prevalent, it is puzzling to public health officials.

In Matangi and Kamuthanga village in Mukogodo East, there are at least six mentally disabled children from different families. These two villages are a kilometre apart. 

Sabina Mwari from Matangi village has two children with mental disability.

Her 13-year-old daughter Precious Kagure was diagnosed with cerebral palsy when she was three months old while her five-year-old son had a stroke two years ago.

Mwari’s daughter is immobile and completely dependent on her. 

“When I took her to hospital, she was put under medication but has never recovered. She is paralysed,” says Mwari.

Her brother was born normal but was later diagnosed with stroke at Nanyuki Referral Hospital.

“He was convulsing, had a fever, diarrhoea and vomiting,” she says.

In neigbouring Kamuthanga village, there are at least four cases of children with mental and physical disabilities.

In four families across the village, there are cases of children between four and 18 years suffering from cerebral palsy. According to Susan Wanjiru, a community health worker who works closely with the families, the conditions vary with magnitude of needs differing among the children.

“Most of them require assistance to walk, feed or relieve themselves. The symptoms are not visible at birth but they start showing at three to five years,” says Wanjiru.

She says while some have to live with the disabilities for the rest of their lives, some make gradual but full recovery after regular therapy and medications.

Deeper into the villages are similar desperate cases.

In Kamuthanga village, Agnes Wamuyu’s son has displayed symptoms of cerebral palsy since he was two years. In Gitaraga village, there are at least seven cases of children suffering mental disabilities.

According to the health worker, most of the children are born normal but develop developmental issues between six months and one year.

Among the seven children in Gitaraga, two are Beatrice Nyanjau’s grandchildren.

Her two grandsons- David Kamau (2 years) and Mark Kinyua (15 years)-  were born normal until they got meningitis attack when they were one year and six months old respectively.

“The boys are born of different fathers but they have the same illness,” she says.

Surprisingly, the mystery condition is normal to the villagers.

“Most of us meet during therapy sessions but it has never occurred to us how prevalent it is in this area. We thought it is just normal,” says Nyanjau.

According to Ngenia Chief Wangai Nderitu, the cases are spread in more villages than the locals know. Other affected locations include Kirurumo, Glutton and Ethi.

Underlying issues

The chief says although children are the most affected, there are a number of adults with cerebral palsy.

Experts say there could be underlying issues to explain why children from different families and villages develop mental issues at early age.

Dr Philip Olielo, a pediatrician in Nanyuki, says cases of cerebral palsy are common in the area but more investigations need to be done to establish root cause.

“If there is a specific medical issue that seems to be dominant in a village, then this is something that needs to be investigated,” says Olielo.

Global statistics show two or three children for every 1,000 babies born develop cerebral palsy but the big question in these villages is why the predominant disorder in nearby locations.

According to Olielo, socio-economic status, birth defects, family history are possible causes of cerebral palsy.

There are explanations that commercial large scale farms and water pollution could be linked to the problem.

Laikipia County chief officer for health Dr Donald Mogoi says the cases are news to them.

“We are not aware, but now that it has come to light, it is now for us to dig deeper to find out what is going on with the children,” says Mogoi.

To unearth the issue, he says they will focus on tracing parents’ medical history, immunisation record, mother’s health during pregnancy among others.