A one-year-old boy has undergone a successful brain surgery to remove a tumour in Makueni county.
The child was among patients who underwent surgery at Makueni Referral Hospital’s Mother and Child Hospital Unit in the last one week.
Some 300 patients were treated at the facility, while two were referred to Kenyatta National Hospital for free specialised surgeries.
The child’s mother, Brigit Mwololo, said her son was born with a swelling in the face and he would frequently fall sick.
“We had several CT scans but money was the biggest hindrance for better medical care. I could not leave him with anybody in the house,” Mwololo told journalists at the facility on Sunday.
The free neurosurgical medical camp was organised by the Makueni government in partnership with the Brain Tumour Association of Kenya (BTAK).
Monica Ndunge, 78, from Mitituni village in Machakos county also benefited.
Ndunge’s daughter Lilian Mwikali said her mother's right hand got paralysed after she suffered stroke in January 2023. She also lost her speech.
“Our mother was admitted to a Machakos hospital for three weeks where we were told she had nerve compression but we didn’t receive much attention. They said they didn’t have the required drugs that can allow for surgery. We were sent back home after three weeks in the facility,” Mwikali said.
She said her mother’s condition worsened earlier last month (May) and they rushed her to Kenyatta National Hospital. They were referred to Makueni Referral Hospital where a medical camp had been organised.
“She has undergone the much-awaited surgery and she is recovering here at Makueni Mother and Child Hospital Unit. We have seen her. She is very much okay. We thank God and Makueni for the camp,” Mwikali said.
The two were among patients who turned up for consultation and surgery during Makueni’s Brain Tumour Week courtesy of Dr Parmenaus Minda Okwemwa, a consultant neuropathology’s and Prof Christopher Musau, a specialist neurosurgeon.
Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr promised to set up a brain and spinal cord hospital.
“Ukambani region has a growing burden of brain cancer. Building such a facility will address this and benefit neighbouring counties,” he said.
Dr Okwemwa, a neuropathologist and lecturer at the University of Nairobi and the chairman of the Brain Tumour Association of Kenya, said having such a facility in the region will increase awareness on brain tumour and treatment.
“Setting up a facility in Makueni will cut travel expenses for patients who have to travel all the way to Nairobi. When it is built, we will pick up the discussions from there on partnering and having enough specialists posted to do these surgery services,” Dr Okemwa said.
Students from the University of Nairobi pursuing medicine visited the facility and were taken through the procedures by the experts.
The governor lauded the team of medical specialists who ended the camp on Sunday.
Prof Musau said they were looking forward to deepening their partnerships with the county government for neurosurgical services to be brought closer to patients.
“Although many people feel that it is costly to treat brain tumours and ailments of the spinal cord, we have done that for free. I can report that we have started talks with Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr and his health team so that we can have neurosurgical services closer to the people as opposed to Nairobi,” he said.
Makueni Health Executive Dr Paul Musila told journalists that the camp attracted patients from all over the country.
“The camp was also meant to raise awareness on brain tumours which affect infants, children, teenagers and adults,” Musila said.
Persistent headache, recurrent vomiting, reduced consciousness, seizures, regular fatigue, and memory problems are some brain tumour symptoms people should be keen on, BTAK medics said.