Pupil detained over Sh14,000 bill after kala-azar treatment

A 15-year-old pupil in Tharaka Nithi County has been detained at Marimanti Sub-County Hospital over a Sh14,000 medical bill.

The Standard Seven boy was admitted to the hospital with kala-azar on November 11 and discharged on December 20 but has been held hostage since.

Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, the pupil’s mother Kawira Domiano said she had been unable to pay the bill, which has been accumulating every day.

“My son was diagnosed with kala-azar and admitted to the hospital for treatment but he cannot go home even after being discharged, because I have no money to pay the medical bill,” Ms Domiano said.

Hospital administrators had maintained that the boy, who was supposed to report back to Kamacabi Primary School on Monday, would not be released until the entire bill is cleared.

They turned down her request to pay part of the bill so that her son could be released to go back to school.

“I am appealing to our governor, Muthomi Njuki, to have mercy and ask the hospital to release my son and I promise to pay the money in instalments,” said the desperate mother.

The case comes against the backdrop of growing kala-azar prevalence in the area.

At least 15 people have died of the disease and over 100 infected since early last year in Kathangacini, Kamaguna, Twanthanju and Gatunga in Tharaka North sub-county.

His sick wife

More people are likely to die of the disease, which is caused by protozoan parasites that are transmitted by the bite of infected female phlebotomine sand flies, because the infected are avoiding going to hospital due to lack of money to pay bills.

Many patients are still in their homes even after testing positive for the disease, which has a 95 per cent fatality rate if left untreated, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

The Nation learned last week that of the 34 who had tested positive for the disease the previous week in Kiamiramba, only three had started treatment.

Mr Nicholas Mutegi said he had to go back home with his sick wife after he was unable to pay for tests at Marimanti Sub-County Hospital.

“We were informed by the chief and community health volunteers that the treatment is free but it has turned out to be very expensive,” Mr Mutegi told the Nation at the Kiamiramba market.

Until December last year, patients sought treatment in neighbouring Meru, Isiolo, Meru, Embu and Kitui counties because there was no a kala-azar treatment centre in Tharaka Nithi, according to the devolved unit’s Health executive, Dr Gichuyia Nthuraku.

However, the Ministry of Health’s Department of the Neglected Tropical Disease has since established a treatment centre at Marimanti Sub-County Hospital.

Residents of the affected areas, led by Mr Sabastian Mwangangi, have asked the county government to consider offering free treatment as earlier announced and moving the treatment centre closer to the victims.

“To receive treatment, patients have to travel about 50km and that is why some of them are dying at home,” Mr Mwangangi said.

Neither Marimanti hospital administrators nor Dr Nthuraku responded to our queries about the detained boy’s case.

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