Teacher's body held in hospital over bill of 1.9 Million

Sally Tallam with her daughters two physically challenged children at home in Perkerra in Baringo county on February 28,2019 .Her husband late Paul Tallam who was a teacher at Perkerra Primary school collapsed in class while teaching on November 14 last year and was rushed to Marigat hospital and later transferred to a hospital in Nakuru where was admitted for months before he died .The family is now appealing for the release of his body which has been detained Mediheal Hospital in Nakuru for the past one and a half months over a bill of Sh 1.9 Million.[Photo:Kipsang Joseph/Standard]

Dealing with the loss of a loved one is never easy. But for one family from Marigat, Baringo County, their pain has been made worse by their inability to raise Sh1.9 million to enable them have their kin’s body released for burial.

Paul Tallam died at a Nakuru hospital, over a month ago, where he had been transferred for specialised treatment after he collapsed in class.

Tallam taught at Perkerra Primary School where he collapsed while teaching on November 14, last year.

He was rushed to Marigat Hospital and later transferred to Mediheal Hospital in Nakuru town where he was admitted until he died on January 17. The body is being held over unpaid bills.

Tallam’ widow, Sally, said he exhausted the two health insurance covers he had.

After exhausting the National Health Insurance Fund and Minet — the teachers’ medical insurance cover — the family organised five fundraisers at their home in Perkerra and Marigat, but they failed to raise enough money to offset the bill.

“It has been a struggle to get things going. The bill stands at Sh1.9 million in addition to the ballooning mortuary bill. He was the sole bread winner and we do not have anything else to offer,” said Sally.

Barely enough

“When we took him to a private hospital, we knew both covers could bail him out until we were told NHIF only pays Sh300,000 and Minet’s limit is Sh500,000. The community and well-wishers raised Sh500,000,” she added.

Nelson Tarus, Tallam’s son, said his father was diagnosed with chronic malaria and typhoid. He spent several days in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Mediheal Hospital.

At some point, Tarus said, he improved and even spent several days in the ward before his health deteriorated.

“He died in the ICU and our efforts to settle the bill has become a nightmare. We no longer go to work, the children no longer go to school, the community stopped mourning and fundraisers are barely enough,” said Tarus.

According to hospital record, the total cost of treatment is Sh2.7 million.

Perkerra Primary School head teacher Barnabas Limo has called on the Ministry of Education to intervene and have the body released.

“His (Tallam’s) child came to my office yesterday and asked me if his father’s body was still at the mortuary and if he will be buried. It is so sad because even the children are traumatised. His pupils are also asking for him,” Mr Limo said.

Mediheal administrator Devraj Santos had promised that the body would be released this week.