19/11/2021
KNH - on the frontline in the treatment of burns By Steve Mutuku, Faith Murithi & Lucy Ng’ang’a. Kenyatta National Hospital has been on the frontline in the treatment of burns. Last month, for instance, the hospital attended to 15 burn cases, most of which arose from accidents. According to Senior Nursing Officer James Odhiambo, the majority of these are intentional burns on children between the ages of 3 and 12 years, mainly from parents, as a form of punishment, which they later on regret. Sharon Bahati, is a burns survivor admitted at KNH’s Burns Unit, after being referred from Meru Referral Hospital. She vividly recalls the events that led her to the hospital bed like yesterday. “The kerosine stove I was using at home exploded on my face. I had burns on my face, chest, and arms,” she tells Newsline. “The explosion shocked me. I’m told I immediately fell unconscious and remained in that state for a week while in hospital. I was transferred to KNH from Meru and was admitted at the Burns Unit for an entire month,” she said a team of specialists at KNH worked to stabilize my vitals. “I was infused to replace fluids lost during my treatment. Debridement, which is the removal of the dead skin commenced as they prepared me for theatre where I underwent skin grafting,” she added. Cleaning the facial, arms, and chest wounds was a painful process that made her feel like she would lose the battle. This is because her burns had covered around 40% of her skin. She responded well to treatment and was subsequently transferred to the Rehabilitation Ward 4D where a procedure to graft her skin was undertaken. “We used her thighs as the donor part and grafted some skin on her face and hands. After two months of intense physiotherapy, it enabled her to regain her arms functionality and skin” Mr. Odhiambo said. “Through counseling and assistance from Kenyatta National Hospital, my life was saved. I’m able to regain my confidence considering
The Occupational (L-R) James Odhiambo Senior Nursing Officer and Sharon Bahati during an interview at Kenyatta National Hospital on 3rd Nov 2021. She survived kerosene stove explosion burns PHOTO | STEVE MUTUKU
PHOTO | PETCOACH.COM Gas burner, one of the fatal sources of burns victims in many households
the severe burns I underwent and I appreciate the team for reviving my dignity,” says Ms. Bahati. Sharon has been discharged from the hospital. The writers are on an internship at the Marketing & Communication department at Kenyatta National Hospital.
PHOTO | STEVE MUTUKU Sharon Bahati, is a survivor of a burn injury at Kenyatta National Hospital.
ISSUE 24 | Kenyatta National Hospital Newsline
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