02/02/2006
GRANTS
WECHE MOKADHO
JEXJALUO ****
;
The Plight of Kenya's Children Seeking
Medical Care: The Benjelina
Akoth Story
The Plight of Kenya's children seeking medical care: The Benjelina Akoth story
A Kenyan Community Abroad (KCA) statement
The Kenyan Community Abroad is deeply saddened by the loss of 8 year old Benjelina, a little girl whose story breaks open the mistreatment and disregard of children who seek simple medical testing and life-saving drugs. KCA came to know Benjelina through Hezekiah Nyaranga, founder and caregiver at Reach-Out Centre in Kisumu.
Mr. Nyaranga tells of this little girl's story:
"Benjelina Akoth Ogol was born on 9/10/1997 to the late Joel Ogol and Consolata Ogol of Nyamware South sublocation, Kisumu. She was the last born in a family of four. Two of her siblings have since died. Her father and mother died in 1997 and 1999 respectively.
For two years, Consolata went under the care of Mama Benjelina Obura, for who little Benjelina was named. Being young and in need of playmates, little Benjelina was allowed to move to the next home where she made friends and continued to live happily.
Benjelina started developing problems in 2003 when rashes started appearing on her body. This was never taken seriously as it was never thought that the parents died of Aids. The parents did not go for HIV testing and it was widely believed that they had died from Typhoid and Malaria. Benjelina was treated at a local health facility and discharged.
Later that year, Benjelina was admitted into the Reach-out programme and was enrolled in the baby class where she played a lot with her age mates, at times falling sick and recovering after treatment. [Reach-Out is a centre with a breakthrough structure that incorporates the care provided by immediate family, relatives and neighbours.]
It was not until late 2004 that I got concerned with her health as she was getting sick every month and taking longer to recover. Her brother died that same year from HIV/AIDS complications. It was not easy convincing the immediate family members to get Benjelina tested for HIV and after lengthy persuasion they gave consent. The most difficult part was to get Benjelina tested as she was a minor. We were not allowed to take her for VCT (Voluntary Counseling and Testing) services as she could not give consent.
After several efforts to convince the Doctors at the PGH Nyanza they finally allowed her to take a test but insisted that the caregiver also has to take a test. Unprepared as she was, Benjelina's caregiver took the test to save the little girl's life.
Benjelina tested positive to HIV in July 2005. Life was never the same for this girl as we kept on visiting the hospital with little support. Her life hung on the balance when the hospital refused to carry out more tests for lack of $5. A Kenyan in the US came to the rescue with a $50 donation.
The hospital could still not perform the required test sighting lack of equipments. The delay was the worst for the girl as she got weaker and weaker. As her condition continued to deteriorate, the doctors could still not give her ARVs. When her CD4 cell count was finally done it took them another 10 days to decide to give drugs.
She died while waiting to receive these drugs. It is indeed sad how our system can make children suffer. At the time of her death, Benjelina was in Std 2 at Migingo Primary School, a good pupil with average performance despite her condition."
The injustices against HIV positive children continue to go on, resulting in unnecessary deaths of our children. No child deserves the kind of third-class citizen treatment Benjelina received. Whatever we have as a meager resource, our children must come first.
Children should not have to stand in long lines with adults to receive medical care. Our system must be more humane than that if we care about what kind of adults we wish to have populate Kenya in the future.
The KCA calls upon the Ministry of Health to put in place a system that ensures children's welfare remains a priority, especially when it comes to administration of life-saving tests and drugs. Let Benjelina's death not be in vain.
Hezekiah Nyaranga has since initiated the Benjelina Memorial Fund to assist sick children from poor families gain easier access to medical care and be treated with the dignity they deserve. To make a donation, please contact reachout5@yahoo.com.
Mkawasi Mcharo, Vice President,
The Kenyan Community Abroad: Washington, D.C
Hezekia Nyaranga, Founder,
Reach-Out Center, Kisumu
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