NEWSLINE EDITION 24

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Editor’s note

Editor’s note p.2

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) p.3-4

Medical ethics: The right to refuse treatment p. 5- 6

Directline Assurance in aid of orthopedic patients p.6

History Check: The second phase of the expansion project at KNH p.7 KNH re-unites patient with family after 31 years p.8

Juvenile Diabetes: Type 1 Diabetes in Children P. 9-10

Positive mentions from KNH socials p.10 KNH participates in JKIA Emergency Planning Workshop for Stakeholders p.11 Intern’s experience p.11

The Mystery of Sleep p.12 Hundreds benefit from free Diabetes Medical Outreach p.13

Our story in Pictures p.14

Disaster Management: KNH staff counterterrorism awareness workshop p.15-16

Orthopedic bed lifter; A game changer in orthopedic care p.16

Hope in the nick of time; a heartwarming story from MMUH p. 17

RESTORING DIGNITY TO WOMEN p. 18-19 Comic zone p. 20

ON THE COVER

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) p. 3

Marketing & Communication Department

Design Concept Team: Dave Opiyo, Edel Q. Mwende, Yvonne Gichuru & Collins Cheruiyot

Editorial Team: Dave Opiyo , Edel Q. Mwende, Winfred Gumbo, Verah Mugambi, Priscah Angwenyi, Philip Etyang & Luke Kung’u

Stories: Edel Q. Mwende, Verah Mugambi, Winfred Gumbo,Priscah Angwenyi, Yvonne Gichuru, Luke Kung’u, Linnette Leyi, Petterson Njogu, Philip Etyang, Jacqueline Ngure, Effie Sande Mboya, Benjamin Koech & Faith Gesambi

Design By: Collins Cheruiyot

Photos: Nicholas Wamalwa, Steve Arwa, Effie Sande Protous Cheruiyot, Jacqueline Ngure & Luke Kung’u

Tel: +254 20 2726300-9 Ext. 43121 or 43969 Fax: +254 20 272572

Email: caffairs@knh.or.ke knh.caffairs@gmail.com

Dear colleagues,

This year’s Vesicovaginal fistula (VVF) Camp has been running from 14th to 18th November; that is an entire 5 days dedicated to restoring dignity to women.

A multidisciplinary team led by Dr. Weston Khisa, MBS, VVF Committee Chairman, has been on the ground to ensure all is well and the patients are properly taken care of from screening to post surgery.

In order to make the event a success, several partners came on board. These were; Kenyatta National Hospital, Safaricom M-PESA Foundation, Flying Doctors’Society of Africa, Amref Health Africa, and Royal Media Services.

On Thursday 17th November, 2022, KNH CEO Dr. Evanson Kamuri, EBS hosted Safaricom M-PESA Foundation team led by the Chairman, Mr. Joe Ogutu, for a partnership meeting in regards to the VVF Camp.

The team visited Ward 1A where the patients are staying before and after surgery and gifted them dignity bags. They also visited Clinic 66 where screening took place before admission as well as the Kenyatta Prime Care Centre theatre where some of the surgeries were done.

A total of 46 successful surgeries were done in this year’s event.

All the Newslines and Newsletters can be accessed online at: https://bit.ly/3uQGCcI

Ms. Winfred A. Gumbo

Public Relations Officer, Marketing and Communication

Kenyatta National Hospital

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

By Verah Mugambi

Every couple’s dream is to have a perfect family. However, health and perfection in some cases are relative. There is a medical drama series called The Good Doctor. The story centers around a character Dr. Shaun Murphy, a young autistic savant syndrome surgeon who joins a prestigious hospital in their surgical unit.

Unable to personally connect with those around him since not many understand him, Dr. Murphy uses his extraordinary medical gifts to save lives and challenge the uncertainty of his colleagues.

The series shows that autism is not the end of the world or a death sentence. With proper understanding and therapy, an autistic kid can grow up to be a healthy and perfect human. They are special and were born to stand out, not just fit in.

Two weeks ago, during the coverage of World Occupational Therapy Awareness week, Newsline met Mrs. Tabitha with the energetic and funny baby G (not his real name) a patient at KNH Occupational Therapy Unit. Upon interaction, she shared that she has another autistic baby. This is the second time Tabitha is coming to the OT department to give her baby a chance of living life the best way they can.

Autism is a developmental disability caused by differences in the brain. People with ASD often have problems with social communication and interaction and restricted or repetitive behaviors or interests. Patients with ASD have varying ways of learning, moving, or paying attention.

Autism symptoms can be flagged in early childhood, but often it is not diagnosed until much later in the child’s life. The abilities

and needs of autistic people vary and can evolve over time. While some people with autism can live independently, others have severe disabilities and require life-long care and support.

Mrs. Tabitha shared her experience: “We came to KNH towards the end of July this year with my son. Unfortunately, he’s not my first autistic child. I have an eleven years old son who is also autistic…that’s the one who made me discover the Kenyatta OT department.

With the firstborn, I took him to school when he turned three years. He was nonverbal and also toileting was a problem. I took the child to school in diapers, but the teachers told me to go home with the diapers…that was the most difficult point of my life since I knew my baby well and he needed diapers. So I went stayed at the school gate for hours waiting for the teachers to change their minds, but they didn’t.

Within a week, the child had copied the others and learned how to use the toilet. He still wasn’t talking, but he was doing what others were doing. The fact that he couldn’t speak, it was difficult for him to communicate with the rest so his language was violent…would push, scratch, and even bite the others.

It was the hyperactivities of my son and a lot of parents complaining about his violent tendencies with his classmates that made the teachers call and told us that our son had a problem. The teacher referred us to the Kenya Institute of Special Education (KISE).

The mood suddenly changed; it was like our fears of something is wrong with him were about to become a reality. So, we went to KISE with my husband, and the moment they said “your child has special needs”, he banged the table in a rage and said no one should

“ I endorse Kenyatta National Hospital every day. I tell people there’s something about OTs in Kenyatta. They are really intentional and they take your child as the only child in the facility. “ said Mrs. Tabitha

PHOTO |STEVE ARWA

Sensory Intergration Therapy Specialist Mr. Mikie Baron during a vestibular system stimulation session with baby G.

Superwoman Tabitha Njoroge a role model to be emulated

label his son. It was the lowest moment of our lives.

So, after a few hours of observing him, they concluded that my son has autism but they couldn’t pinpoint the exact type of autism he has so they referred us to Kenyatta to a child psychiatrist Dr. Josephine Omondi.

When we came to Dr. Omondi, she spent about 2 hours with my son. She told us to just let him be… so we were there sitting as our son was all over the room, and very restless. Later she told us from watching him, he has High Function Autism.

At that point, it hits now that your child is not well. His condition threatened the future of what I wanted for him; to raise a successful boy, one who will leave my house as an independent strong man. Our lives were drawn off balance by this revelation. Relatives and friends speculated the possibility of the child being bewitched.

So, we had two options either stay in denial or find help for our son. The doctor said autism wasn’t a disease so he doesn’t need medication, but with Occupation Therapy the child will be well. She introduced us to Ms. Milcah occupational therapist at KNH and we started sessions with her; twice a week. The progress I saw in my son was unbelievable! My son is now in 6th grade and because of therapy at KNH, he is a top performer at the school and relates really well with the rest.

That’s why I believe in Kenyatta National Hospital. I tell people

there’s something about Occupational Therapists (OTs) in Kenyatta…they are really intentional and they will take your child as the only child in the facility. That’s why after I saw the same signs on my other child, I didn’t hesitate and brought him straight to KNH. By age two, I noticed he was not responding to his name, he was kind of a loner.

From my previous experience, I knew the red flags so I did the early intervention. Since it was 2020 when covid was rampant, we bought some of the toys our firstborn used those years back but it wasn’t enough.

So, I called Dr. Omondi to get a referral letter for diagnosis and to possibly start occupational therapy sessions. The diagnosis was

mild autism. My consolation was from experience, am equipped to manage him much easier now both emotionally and physically.

The biggest challenge is autism is not a visible disability, so people judge a lot of what they can’t understand … you are too busy for your baby, your child needs limits, he’s “kichwa ngumu” blablabla… I always say these children’s minds are like computers they open too many windows that they can’t handle so it crushes if not assisted well…and the assistance is Occupational Therapy.

In my opinion, each school is supposed to have Occupational Therapists to help such children with special needs. Not many people know about OT, so the creation of such awareness is very important.” Mrs. Tabitha concluded.

According to Mr. Mikie Baron, KNH’s Sensory Integration Therapy Specialist, they get into the world of the child and bring back the child to normal/reality and this ensures they have a quality life.

Research over the years has shown that early diagnosis and interventions for autism are more likely to have major long-term positive effects on symptoms and later skills. The disorder can sometimes be diagnosed in children before they are two years old. Autism doesn’t come with a manual; it comes with a parent/ guardian who never gives up.

Kenyatta National Hospital

PHOTO | STEVE ARWA Baby G’s mother, Mrs. Tabitha Njoroge during the interview

PHOTO | STEVE ARWA

Baby G and Mr. Mikie Baron during a deep pressure for Proprioception stimulation session

Medical ethics: The right to refuse treatment

decisions that go against the wishes of the patient or their family members. Other times, the provider needs not to ask for patient consent. Some of these scenarios are highlighted in the Health Act No. 21 of 2017. It states that:

“No specified health service may be provided to a patient without the patient’s informed consent unless—

(a) the patient is unable to give informed consent and such consent is given by a person— (i) mandated by the patient in writing to grant consent on his or her behalf; or

By Linnette Leyi

Over the years, patients are naturally demanding better service from their health care providers as they now know their rights better, and most of the time they pay for these services. They are hoping to get timely appointments, easy access to information, and good communication with health care providers.

There has therefore been greater focus by providers on bettering and streamlining patient experience. One major element of improving this experience is honoring patient rights. One of these rights is the right to refuse treatment. More often than not, decisions concerning patient treatment are made by medical practitioners while within the hospital premises, and for the benefit of the patient’s health and wellbeing.

Ms. Ann Kirema, Ag. HOU, from the Kenyatta National Hospital Patient Affairs Unit, elaborated to Newsline the various perspectives and ethical dilemmas surrounding patient rights.

What is this right about?

The right to refuse treatment is accorded to every mentally competent adult. It is informed by the principle of autonomy where health care providers are required to seek the consent or informed agreement of the patient before any investigation or treatment takes place. Consent comes in different forms-verbal, written and implied. A clinician or caregiver needs to understand this. Through providing consent, patients are able to be actively involved in their diagnosis and treatment.

Whom does this right apply to?

Every mentally competent and well-informed patient can consent or refuse to consent to receive care, but if the patient is unable to, then the health care worker or a surrogate/guardian can act on their behalf. Minors, on the other hand, are protected by the law, and guardians are not allowed to make such decisions on their behalf.

Is this right always honored?

Sometimes, health care providers have to make medical

(ii)authorized to give such consent in terms of any law or court order;

(b) the patient is unable to give informed consent and no person is mandated or authorized to give such consent, but the consent is given by the next of kin;

(c) the provision of a health service without informed consent is authorized by an applicable law or court order;

(d) the patient is being treated in an emergency situation;

(e) failure to treat the user, or a group of people which includes the user, will result in a serious risk to public health; or

(f) any delay in the provision of the health service to the patient might result in his or her death or irreversible damage to his or her health and the patient has not expressly, or by implication or by conduct refused that service.”

Why do some people refuse treatment?

There are various reasons why some people decline treatment but the most common ones that our medical practitioners at KNH

PHOTO |STOCK

encounter include:

i) Misinformation/lack of information -Poor communication between a patient and the healthcare provider may result in the declining treatment.

ii) Costs of treatment-Some modes of treatment are expensive and may drain the meagre family resources, so some patients and families opt to decline treatment and look for more affordable options.

iii) Religious and cultural beliefs-Some religions and cultures do not promote some medical practices like blood transfusion, caesarean section delivery, family planning, and immunization, among others.

iv) Fear of side effects/the unknown-At times, people are clouded with feelings of doubt, fear and are unsure if the treatment will work, thus prefer not to go through it.

It is important for health care workers to provide adequate information and empathize with the patient or their family on their fears and concerns.

How do medical practitioners at KNH handle situations when patients refuse treatment?

The first step to handling such an issue is by listening to the patient or their family to understand why they do not wish to receive treatment. Once you establish the reason, it is important to empathize with them and provide a solution.

Equip the patient with adequate information on the treatment, benefits, and the risks that may come along with it.

Sometimes the patient also needs some time to process the information and make an informed decision. Healthcare workers are also urged to avoid using coercion or trying to threaten patients on possible consequences, instead they

should use persuasive and supportive language.

If the final decision is made on refusing treatment, patients or their families are asked to provide a written directive on the choice made.

Are patients aware of these rights among others?

Through the Patient Affairs Department, patients are made aware of their rights. KNH staff also inform patients of their rights before giving treatment. Within the Hospital, patients can access the Patient Service Charter that reminds them of their various rights while receiving treatment.

Parting shot: Whilst refusal to receive treatment may be an ethical issue, health-care workers are encouraged to respect patient decisions but also inform them adequately when such decisions need to be made.

Directline Assurance in aid of orthopedic patients

By: luke G. Kung’u

KNH Chair Board of Management Mr. George Ooko held a partnership meeting with Directline Assurance CEO Mr. Evans Nyagah, in commemoration of The World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims on 18th November 2022.

“Kenyatta National Hospital has over two hundred patients under orthopedic care. These are long stay patients since orthopedic care is quite intensive and costly. Unfortunately, majority of them are the young population ranging from twenty to thirty years who are in their productive age. A huge proportion of these patients are unable to meet their medical expenses. I welcome this initiative and applaud Directline Assurance for caring about road accident victims,” said Mr. Ooko.

“I am delighted to be at KNH towards realization of this partnership. The country has recorded a large number of road accidents and fatalities since the start of the year. This is a call for concern to all stakeholders involved in road infrastructure, transport as well as safety and security. These are our family members ending up being victims, others are hospitalized and the burden of care for them is insurmountable,” said Mr. Nyagah.

The duo reiterated that the partnership will hold for long since the two entities have a common agenda in caring for the road traffic victims, the former in medical care and the latter in compensation.

Directline Assurance donated surgical implants, wheel chairs, crutches, among other interventions to needy victims of

road traffic accidents admitted at the hospital.

Thank you Directline Assurance for the kind gesture.

PHOTO |STEVEN ARWA

KNH Chair, Board of Management Mr. George Ooko (L) with CEO Direct line Assurance Mr. Evans Nyagah(R) after the partnership meeting.

History Check: The second phase of the expansion project at KNH

By Philip Etyang

»» Continuation from Newsline

edition

23

In 1964, the Native Civil Hospital was renamed the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) after the founding president of the Republic of Kenya. KNH then started operating both as a national hospital and as a provincial and regional hospital for Nairobi area.

Medical students started receiving training in 1965 at KNH. Later, in December of the same year, the maternity department was established and commencement of training for state-approved midwives.

Between 1965 and 1990, the history of the country’s largest referral hospital can be summed up by the following major milestones:

1964: Renaming of the Old Civil Hospital to Kenyatta National Hospital.

1965: KNH took over the services of the British Military Hospital in Kabete, Nairobi as its Orthopedic Surgery Department.

1971: Opening of a new general outpatient Wing.

1972: Opening of a Spine Injury Unit.

1981: Opening of the Tower Block with 1,200 bed capacity. Which effectively brought the combined total of the old and new wings to add up to 2,000 beds.)

1990: Start of the rehabilitation works by the World Bank.

Phase Two

The second phase of the expansion program at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) involved the completion of the following service departments at the main facility: Pharmacy and Sterile Preparation Unit, the Central Catering Unit, the Hospital Mortuary, Eye Department, National Medical Library, Hearing Aid Department, Cardiopulmonary Department, Museum and Medical Photography Department, Electroencephalography Department and Laundry.

Another major development in 1972

was the establishment and opening of the Spinal Injury Unit which later became the National Spinal Injuries Unit in 1979. According to a March 2016, research article by Dr. J.W. Kinyanjui and published in the East African Orthopaedic Journal titled Pattern and outcome of spinal injury at KNH, spinal injury constitutes a significant disease burden at KNH.

The research was carried out in 49 patients over a span of six months between August 2013 and January 2014 and concluded that spine injuries mostly affect males who are in the economically productive age group, largely as a consequence of road traffic accidents. Findings also showed that spinal injury mainly affects individuals whose main occupation involves manual labour.

Another major finding of the research study was that there was need to make improvements in the emergency response infrastructure as well as the development of clear and concise referral criteria for the lower-level hospitals to ensure timely management of spinal injuries.

Phase Three

The main projects that were completed in this phase were; the

opening of the 1,209-bed capacity Tower Block, and therefore, creating more space in the Old Hospital, completion of the departments of Physical Medicine, Occupational Therapy, four operating theatres, the Admission Unit, and the X-Ray Department (Now Radiology). Today, the X-Ray Department, operates under the Diagnostics Services and Health Information Division. The previous wards in the Old Hospital building were refurbished and converted into office space and a cancer ward. The phase came to a close in 1981.

In 1987, KNH became a State Corporation through Legal Notice No. 109 of 6th April 1987 with the mandate of receiving patients on referral from other hospitals for specialized health care, provide facilities for medical education for the University of Nairobi (College of Health Sciences) and the Kenya Medical Training Center.

KNH was also mandated to provide facilities for education and training in nursing and other health and allied institutions, and finally to operate as a national referral hospital.

Fast forward to 2022, KNH has a capacity of 1,800 beds, attends to at least 80,000 inpatients and 600,000 outpatients annually on average. The hospital is also equipped with 50 wards, 24 operating theatres and 24 consultant clinics.

The KNH Diagnostic &Reporting Center building that houses the CT Scan Center. Inset: The Zarina Merali Daycare Center building.

PHOTO | STEVEN ARWA

KNH re-unites patient with family after 31 years

By Winfred Gumbo

In what sounds surreal, Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) on 18th November, 2022 successfully managed to re-unite a patient with her family, after decades of tirelessly struggling to find her.

In the year 1991, 16-year-old Alice Kalekye Mui left her home to stay with a friend, never be seen again by her family. With time, she developed mental health problems and ended up living in the streets of Mwingi town alone. Due to lack of basic needs, her health continuously deteriorated.

After tirelessly searching for Alice in many parts of the country, the family concluded she had died and gave up looking for her.

Sister Mary Musembi, the founder of Mercy Servants of the Poor Institution who has been working with KNH to give home to abandoned and homeless patients, discovered her in the streets of Mwingi.

“Due to my passion in helping the poor, I noticed a homeless lady who lacked food and shelter. I used to take food to her while living in the streets until one day she was involved in an accident. On 22nd July, 2022 I got a call from some Mwingi residents saying that Alice was involved in a severe road traffic accident (RTA),” said Sister Musembi.

“I quickly rushed to the scene of the accident and took her to Matuu Level 4 Hospital whereby she was given first aid and referred to KNH for specialized health care on 23rd July, 2022 after being given an ambulance which enabled us get to the hospital on time,” she added.

At KNH, Alice was admitted at ward 1D where a multidisciplinary team consisting of doctors, nurses, psychologists, palliative and wound care specialists among others worked tirelessly round the clock to ensure she recovered.

“Due to the mental instability she suffers from, she never remembered anything about her home while recovering,” said Ms. Catherine Njoroge, a Medical Social Worker and Clinical Psychologist at Ward 1D.

“On 18th August, 2022, the Social Work Unit wrote a letter to National Registration Bureau requesting for her finger prints to be taken to

establish her identity and from this we were able to know her name, the parent and the area she originates from,” added Ms. Njoroge.

After this, the team managed to reach the area chief of Nuu Location who informed the family of their child being alive at KNH. The family was shocked beyond belief and they came to KNH on 3rd November, 2022 to confirm if it was their daughter.

“I was more than delighted to positively identify my daughter,” said a smiling Mr. Mui Kivivu, Ms. Kalekye’s father.

“Despite the number of years gone, I am glad she is alive,” he added.

“I look forward to supporting them as they get to settle together back at home,” said Mr. David Mulungwa,

a distant cousin to Ms. Kalekye who came to help her father with the discharge process.

As Ms. Kalekye walked away from the wards, she was so excited to finally get home and meet her other family members.

“I am so excited to be going home after such a while,” she told Newsline.

The happy family eventually settled in the van to head home. Ms. Kalekye is now 47-years old.

In order to avoid such cases, Ms. Njoroge encourages parents to be on look out for children during adolescence stage as this is the time most of them start to develop symptoms of mental health challenges.

Ms. Alice Kalekye (3rd L), joined by Ms. Catherine Njoroge (L), Mr. Edward Nkanata (2nd L), Mr. Mui Kivivu (3rd R), Sister Mary Musembi (2nd R) and Mr. David Mulungwa, (R)

PHOTO | STEVEN ARWA

after she was discharged from KNH

PHOTO | SISTER MARY MUSEMBI

Sister Mary Musembi (L) with Ms. Alice Kalekye Mui when she used to feed her in the streets of Kanyonyoo Market, Kitui County before being admitted at KNH

Juvenile Diabetes: Type 1 Diabetes in Children

By Petterson Njogu

November is World Diabetes Awareness Month. The month is meant to provide an avenue to raise awareness on diabetes as a global public health issue and the roles that need to be played for better prevention, diagnosis and management of diabetes.

Little talked about is diabetes in children; it is true that diabetes effects are felt across all age groups; both the young and the old. In an attempt to learn more about diabetes in children, Newsline held a one-on-one discussion with Dr. Phoebe Wamalwa, Paediatric and Adolescent Endocrinology and Diabetes Fellow at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH).

What is Juvenile Diabetes?

Childhood diabetes is a type of diabetes that largely affects children, adolescents and young adults. This condition can affect anyone in the age bracket of 0-18 years. It could stretch up to 24 years in some cases.

What are the types of diabetes?

We have two main types of diabetes; type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes, previously known as insulin-dependent diabetes, is a result of the destruction of pancreatic beta cells so that the body is not able to make its own insulin for normal glucose metabolism. Therefore, the patient suffering from type 1 diabetes will depend on exogenous insulin (injected insulin). Type 2 diabetes largely affects adults and some adolescents. It occurs due to insulin resistance. In this case, the individual will have a normally functioning pancreas, but the insulin secreted encounters resistance at the tissue level. These patients mainly depend on oral medication to reduce the resistance for the insulin to work.

Do children get diagnosed with both types of diabetes?

Yes, it is possible, but studies

have shown that there is an increased frequency of type 1 diabetes among children, adolescents and young adults. Generally, over 80% of children have type 1 diabetes due to a genetic predisposition to the destruction of the pancreas. However, obese children who have a very strong family history of type 2 diabetes might be at risk for type 2 diabetes.

What are some of the ways to diagnose diabetes in children?

The medically recognized way is by testing one’s blood glucose level. A diagnosis of diabetes will be made if the random blood sugar is more than 11 mmol/L or if the fasting blood sugar is more than 6.9 mmol/L.

What are the causes of diabetes in children?

Type 1 diabetes occurs when pancreatic cells are destroyed by more than 90%. The cause of this destruction is known as an autoimmune process where the body attacks its own cells and is a result of exposure to certain antigens and viruses.

What are the major warning signs and symptoms of diabetes in a

child?

These are the signs that can be easily picked up by any caregiver. They include frequent urination, increased thirst, weight loss and infections such as ear infections, chest infections, fungal infections, and skin infections. All these could be indicators that the child has a high blood sugar level in the body.

How long can a child have diabetes without knowing (without parent/ guardian knowledge)?

There is no definite answer to this because some symptoms take a few days to a few weeks while for some it can take several months. What is key, is that once you suspect the above signs and symptoms, you should see a medical practitioner for further testing and analysis.

What happens if childhood diabetes goes untreated?

If type 1 diabetes goes untreated the child will develop what is referred to as a diabetic emergency. The child may develop difficulty in breathing, vomiting, abdominal pain, and unconsciousness, and if these medical emergencies go unattended to it can result in death. Also, if a child is not compliant with the set-out regimen plan,

PHOTO | STOCK A child with diabetes getting an Insulin Injection to help regulate blood sugar

they may have poorly controlled diabetes. This may result in longterm complications such as loss of eyesight, kidney failure, heart problems, and nerve complications. Therefore, upon diagnosis, patients must seek absolute optimum control of blood sugars.

Can diabetic children lead a normal life?

Yes, they can irrespective of the multiple injections or pricks as they monitor their sugars on a daily basis. These children can play just like others, pursue their careers and live their best lives as long as their sugar levels are well controlled.

Is childhood diabetes curable?

No, type 1 diabetes is not curable and it is important upon diagnosis that these children are made aware that they will be on injections for the rest of their lives. The good news is that diabetes can be managed; through daily insulin injections, regular clinic appointments, and looking out for diabetes social clubs and societies for psychological support, especially for adolescents and young adults - this helps them deal better with the diagnosis.

Dr. Wamalwa insisted on intensive insulin therapy where a patient with type one diabetes uses multiple (four to five) injections in a day. 2

‘FACT’

type 1 diabetes is not curable and it is important upon diagnosis that these children are made aware that they will be on injections for the rest of their lives.

In conclusion, everything narrows down to early diagnosis and sticking to the regular treatment plan for better management of diabetes. This will go a long way in alleviating future complications and ensuring the child can grow and develop normally like other children. It is also key that upon diagnosis they follow up with their diabetes team for reviews. These reviews come in handy for insulin adjustments - could be adjusted either upwards or downwards, and also allows the doctor to rule out any complications.

Kenyatta Prime Care Centre boasts a fully-fledged inpatient pediatric wing well equipped and staffed to handle all childhood/ adolescent endocrinology cases. Additionally, we have an outpatient consultant clinic for diabetes and pediatrics for walk-in patients.

Pediatric Consultant Clinic (Wednesdays 10-2 pm, Thursdays 11-4pm, Fridays 9-2 pm) Diabetes/Endocrinology Consultant

Clinic (Wednesdays 9-12 pm, Thursdays 2-4 pm)

At KNH Clinic 23, we have a Paediatric Diabetes and Endocrine Clinic that runs every

Adolescent

Positive mentions from KNH socials

Fayrouz Winnes

The best hospital.

With KNH you are rest assured of quality health services.

Mercy A Onyango

This is the bet hospital so far so good.

Felix Sergon

I appreciate efforts of your consultants. Doing great work. You should deploy more technologies for doctors to manage patients better.

Farady Munoru

That is why I have a lot of respect for you. You have excellent doctors.

Eric M Musau

KNH inatujali.

Jayp Morgan

That is why you are the best.

Geelyn Sambi

Thank you Kenyatta you saved me.

Mercy Nduku

Barikiweni sana KNH.

Sylvanus Wasonga

KNH installed in me the best skills during

my practicals, thanks to KMTC and KNH.

Sheila Kimani

KNH is bae.

Tahi Tafa

I gave birth on 13th at Kenyatta National Hospital and I must say your services were superb even though it was through cs, shout out to doctor Bill, Faith and the rest.

Kenyatta National Hospital

By Luke Kung’u

Solomon Okoth

PHOTO | COURTESY Dr. Phoebe Wamalwa, Paediatric and

Endocrinology and Diabetes Fellow at KNH

KNH participates in JKIA Emergency Planning Workshop for Stakeholders

By Edel Mwende & Benjamin Koech

Emergencies happen anywhere and at any time. The recent aircraft accident by Precision Air in Bukoba, Tanzania where 19 people lost lives is one of the many wakeup calls for crisis or disaster preparedness.

Airports hold critical infrastructure (aeroplanes) that hold well over 400 passengers. Airports have great contribution to the economy hence there is need to have joint response mechanisms to emergencies by relevant stakeholders such as KNH.

Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), organized a one-day Aerodome Emergency Plan workshop that took place at Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) Training Centre on 9th November, 2022 and was attended by 29 representatives in total. Two representatives from the KNH Disaster Management Committee; Ms. Edel Q. Mwende and Mr. Benjamin Koech attended the workshop.

The workshop was officially opened by Ms. Tauhida Fakih, Chair-Emergency Committee & Operations Manager, JKIA. She emphasized the importance of the Decision Making Team working together with the Crisis Management Team. “It is therefore important for all JKIA Stakeholders to familiarize themselves with the Airport Emergency Plan and the various stakeholder roles in the face of an emergency.”

KAA is guided by International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) regulations which have been transposed into National Laws (Kenya Civil Aviation Regulations, 2013, part 94-97) on matters Aerodrome Emergency Plan (AEP).

In the implementation of these regulations, state agencies develop policies which form a framework that elaborate the what, how, who, when and where for those requirements in the regulations.

Some of the stakeholders that attended the workshop included; KAA, KNH, Turkish Airlines, Africa Flight services, Nas Servair, St. John Ambulance Kenya, MP Shah, DHL, Port Health, Kenya Revenue Authority, Crowne Plaza and Astral Aviation.

The workshop facilitators, Mr. Charles Muteti and Mr. Chrisantus Mugaka emphasized on the need for every stakeholder to have a well laid out Emergency Response Plan that fuses into the response plans of its stakeholders.

As per the AEP, Kenyatta National Hospital plays two key roles depending on what is requested by the JKIA Incident Commander: providing medical treatment and care of aircraft accident victims once brought to the hospital and deploying medical personnel and deploying to the accident site.

The workshop also entailed the evaluation of the AEP (JKIA/AEP/2021) in order to assess its feasibility.

The intern’s experience

By Samira Yusuf & Celine Kang’ethe

Name: Evelyn Solitei

Department: Occupational Therapy (It’s a profession that promotes the well-being of people.)

Roles: Training basic activities to those that are challenged, actively assisting patients with mental and physical challenges.

Learning experience: The learning experience has been quite enjoyable so far. I am learning to be flexible since the environment in which we are working in is diverse and dynamic

What I love about KNH: its ability to bring about exposure, the relationship you create with the staff is quite fruitful and they are friendly. I love that in this space I am able to get a sense of fulfilment by helping our patients to my level best and I am encouraged to give them optimized health care.

Future plan: I would really want to go back to the community, create awareness of the various dynamics in regards to physical and mental challenges, curb the myths and misconceptions and above provide optimum help.

Parting shot: For my fellow interns, learn what you need to learn and unlearn what you need to unlearn. Ask questions; interact as much as you can with people and make connections. To KNH, I am grateful for the opportunity you give to us to gain experience, you see a future for us and you are supporting us in laying our career foundation.

PHOTO | COURTESY

Plane crash emergency and response simulation

By Priscah Angwenyi

Sleep is a normal, reversible, recurrent state of reduced responsiveness to external stimulation accompanied by complex and predictable changes in physiology. These changes include coordinated, spontaneous, internally generated brain activity and fluctuations in hormone levels and relaxation of musculature.

With so much to do & so little time for it, why do we spend six to 10 hours out of every day in a state of inactivity & unconsciousness? It seems cats sleep averagely at least 20 hours each day. It’s a mystery to evolutionists, who think in terms of survival & fitness. Sleep doesn’t seem logical, but it must be adaptive & important. Almost all critters spend time either sleeping or dormant. So what about humans?

Ms. Caroline Thuranira, Counseling Psychologist attached to the Youth Centre expounds on the same.

Though literally hundreds of sleep research centers exist around the world, with thousands of highly trained people intensely studying sleep, the consensus is that the physiology of sleep is still a large

The Mystery of Sleep

mystery. During sleep, the brain stays incredibly active while our muscles go dormant.

‘Scientists have recorded five phases of sleep with different types of electrical activity. The body makes growth hormone during sleep, which is why babies, children & teenagers need more sleep than adults. Growth hormones are involved in cell maintenance explaining why adults require sleep’, says Ms. Thuranira. The consensus is that while we are asleep, the brain processes things that we have done or thought about while awake, something akin to organizing data files and doing routine maintenance on your computer’s hard drive called memory consolidation, which is a form of brain maintenance. It needs to be recognized that stress damage gets repaired during sleep. It is also during sleep that proper digestion & removal of various body toxins take place. Some body tissues are also repaired when sleeping. The mystery of sleep is an area that provides many ongoing challenges.

Additionally, we know some of the serious problems that happen if we don’t get enough sleep. As little as one-hour deprivation slows response

time, being highly irritable, making it more difficult to think clearly & focus on problems. This explains why students usually do worse on tests after pulling an all-nighter.

School going children need to adjust to the various sleep patterns. This is per their school calendar. During school terms, there is need to follow the school time table while during the long holiday there is need to cover up for hours not slept.

Students who include sleep & exercise in their daily discipline perform exceptionally well academically. Compared to those who do get adequate sleep, those who are sleep-deprived make bad decisions & poor choices, have lower job performance, have more accidents on the highway, in the home, and on the job, gain more weight, and more irritable, have higher blood pressure and more heart disease coupled with less resistance to disease to name just but a few.

Uninterrupted quality sleep without breaks does magic in developing a human being into being wholesome and all round.

PHOTO | Everyday health A woman sleeping

Hundreds benefit from free Diabetes Medical Outreach

By Yvonne Gichuru

Kariobangi North residents turned up in large numbers at the chief’s camp area to get free screening services on 14th November, 2022 to commemorate World Diabetes Day 2022. Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) staff in collaboration with other staff from Mama Margaret Uhuru Kenyatta - KNH Annex and other external partners collectively made the event a success from organizing to coordination of the outreach.

The services provided included screening for Diabetes, Breast and Cervical cancer, Dental check-up, Foot care, Nutrition awareness, Physiotherapy, Opthalmology and Voluntary Counseling & Testing (VCT).

The purpose for the outreach was to educate, empower, and make a positive impact to the people in Kariobangi North.

The outreach began in earnest at 9am where upon arrival, those present got registered and triaged. They were then furnished with health education on physical and reproductive health among other topics as they awaited to be sent to specific screening service points depending on the specific need.

Besides the extensive screening exercise, there was provision of free medication for those diagnosed with any conditions.

Representing the KNH management as the chief guest was Dr. Rose Nyabanda - Director, Health Information and Diagnostic Services.

“We are happy to have been embraced by the community. This outreach also aims to create awareness on Mama Margaret Uhuru Kenyatta Hospital which offers Pediatric services to those around Kariobangi and its envions” she said while making her remarks at the outreach.

She also added that Diabetes affects children too and people

should take advantage of the Diabetes and Endocrinology specialists in KNH.

Among the beneficiaries was Fedis Wambui Irungu, a 21 year old Diabetes warrior who was diagnosed at 10 years. She shared her testimonial on how she manages the condition and how it’s like living a normal life as she transitions from Pediatric to adulthood Diabetes care in the Diabetes and Endocrinology Centre, KNH.

“With a good diet and medicine, it is possible to lead a normal life like me and I’m hopeful to live up to even 100 years” she said as she gave her testimony at the event.

The Kariobangi North Elders expressed their gratitude profusely to the KNH team for their tireless effort in making sure the residents in attendance were all treated and assisted accordingly and for making it possible for the medical outreach to reach them.

KNH medical team managed to screen over 528 patients during the outreach.

Represeting the KNH management as the Chief guest, Dr. Rose Nyabanda - Dir, Health Information and Diagnostic Services together with the Kariobangi North Chief, Nyambura Ndegwa (2nd R) among other KNH staff taking a tour of the different service points offering various medical care and treatment for Diabetes.

PHOTO |STEVEN ARWA

Director Affiliation and Institutional Development - Dr. Tom Menge and Beatrice Oguttu, Principal Nursing Officer - Medicine, both giving their remarks at the medical outreach.

PHOTO | STEVEN ARWA

PHOTO | STEVEN ARWA A Kariobangi North resident getting triaged.

Our story in pictures

PHOTO | STEVEN ARWA

KNH Directors were taken through a three-day training on Leadership, Clinical and Corporate governance by Stan Consulting Group Ltd. The training is done for medical advisory committee (MAC) in an effort to have a representation of MAC in departmental as well as board of governance levels.

PHOTO | PROTOUS CHERUIYOT

Pre-season friendly match of KNH’s football team aimed at gauging the new crop of players as the team prepares for the coming football season..

PHOTO | STEVEN ARWA

Preemie Love Foundation led by their team leader, Mrs. Ruby Kimondo visited the KNH’s New Born Unit on 17th November, 2022 where they donated gift hampers to the mothers in commemoration of World Pre-maturity Day . Thank you Preemie Love Foundation for the donation.

PHOTO | STEVEN ARWA Members of the public lining up for free blood pressure check during the World Diabetes Day held at the Kariobangi North Chief’s camp

PHOTO | STEVEN ARWA

KNH staff providing various screening services for Diabetes and other related illnesses including health education to residents in Kariobangi North as we marked World Diabetes Day on 14th November 2022.

Disaster Management: KNH staff counterterrorism awareness workshop

By Edel Q. Mwende

Disasters are unpredictable, random, sudden, unexpected and they create immense fear and confusion. There is no state, organization or individual that is immune to a disaster.

This fact, therefore, calls for the need for awareness creation on various disasters and how to prepare, prevent, protect, mitigate, respond and recover.

Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) is at the forefront in ensuring hospital staff are sensitized on various disasters that personnel may be assigned to respond to.

The Hospital organized a 5-day workshop (November 7th to 12th) on

handling counter-terrorism disasters. It was held at the KNH Training and Research Centre where 38 staff members from various departments attended.

The workshop was facilitated by the KNH Disaster Management Unit in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Unit (NDMU) and the Government Department Chemist.

Speaking during day three of the counter-terrorism awareness workshop, KNH CEO Dr. Evanson

Kamuri, EBS encouraged the delegates to make good use of the training centre and keep expanding their knowledge and gaining requisite skills that ensure they perform their duties more efficiently and effectively. He also encouraged the trainees to forward any recommendations for continuous improvement of the training centre and hospital preparedness towards disasters.

The eighteen (18) modular workshop encompassed awareness

Kenyatta National Hospital

PHOTO | STEVEN ARWA

KNH Staff during a group photo at the Counter-terrorism awareness workshop at KNH Training & Research Centre. Also present- workshop trainers

PHOTO | STEVEN ARWA

KNH Staff from various departments during the Counter-terrorism awareness workshop at KNH Training & Research Centre

““There is great need for psychosocial support and stress management during disasters since they leave casualties and responders wounded,”

Mr. Douglas Keter, Government Chemist Department Trainer and disaster management expert.

on terrorism which is organized and intentional violence against people that endangers their lives.

It is important to note that there exists legislation and legal framework which is exercised; globally-through the UNOCT (United Nations Counterterrorism Office), regionally (UN treaties against terrorism) and nationally (Prevention of Terrorism Act No. 30 of 2012-POTA, 2012) and The Kenya National Police Service Act 2011.

“Terrorist weapons include explosives, bombs, firearms and melees among others and everyone needs to be vigilant and have situation awareness for easy identification and reporting of

suspicious weapons and individuals. This requires adequate community engagement and respect to human rights,” said the National Disaster Management Unit trainer and disaster management expert, Mr. David Makan.

The team was also sensitized and had practical, tabletop, simulation exercises, on Multiagency response and coordination during a terrorist attack, the Incident Command System and how to develop an incident action, resource mobilization during terror incidence together with incident communication during terror incident.

“There is great need for psychosocial support and stress

management during disasters since they leave casualties and responders wounded, “ emphasized Mr. Douglas Keter, Government Chemist Department Trainer and disaster management expert.

“Let us all work together to ensure that we equip ourselves with relevant knowledge and skills to provide the best health care services to Wanjiku,” said Director Pharmaceutical Services, Dr. Alfred Birichi.

The staff and trainers appreciate the KNH management for facilitating the staff to be ambassadors in disaster management.

Orthopedic bed lifter; A game changer in orthopedic care

By Luke Kung’u

Old adage has averred that necessity is the mother of all innovations, and to put these words into actions has been a dedicated team that has been keenly monitoring quality of specialized care for orthopedic patients in health care set-ups. It is a story that has heart rendering assertion that there is continued improvement in human health care, and has stamped authority as a noble innovation in alleviation of human suffering in medical world. It is a game changer to say the least.

‘Kutoa ni moyo usambe ni utajiri ’ is a saying in Kiswahili but this has gained prominence in the act of giving (donation) by Zakam Ltd of four orthopedic bed lifters to KNH ward 6C. The bed lifters are a replacement of the long time used unorthodox methods reminiscent of many orthopedic care rooms, to a state of the art easy to install and adjust bed lifters.

The new model occupies less space, has smooth polished stainless steel that adds allure and a spanner to the works that entail orthopedic care. It assures comfort to the patient as well as reducing the man power and time taken to adjust the orthopedic beds, therefore enhancing

turnaround time and asserting better clinical outcomes.

Thank you Zakam Ltd for the donation

PHOTO | LUKE KUNG’U

The stainless-steel orthopedic bed lifters

PHOTO | LUKE KUNG’U

The wooden blocks used as bed lifters

PHOTO | STEVE ARWA

The newly improvised bed lifters replacing the wooden blocks

Hope in the nick of time; a heartwarming story from MMUH

By Effie Sande Mboya & Jacqueline Ngure

Nursing a newborn is a beautiful thing, and the joy of every parent is to raise their child healthy. It however, comes with its challenges and nothing can fully prepare a parent for their child’s sudden medical emergency.

Esther Anyango Onyango’s, two and a half month-old son is admitted at Mama Margaret Uhuru Kenyatta Hospital (MMUH) shared the horrifying ordeal that landed her son in Hospital, following a choking incident with the MMUH Marketing and Communication (M&C) team and this is her story.

On the evening of 23rd October 2022, baby Samuel fell ill and Ms. Onyango quickly ran to the nearest chemist in Baba Dogo, Nairobi where they reside, and bought a cough syrup. She however did not administer the medication until the following morning, and that is when things took a drastic turn for the worse.

“After I gave Samuel the syrup, he started coughing and I noticed he had stopped breathing as well. I immediately rushed him to a hospital in Baba Dogo that I knew, unfortunately when I reached there at 6:45 am they had not opened but I remembered MMUH which I always see as I pass through going to work, and that is how we ended up here.” Ms. Onyango stated.

“When we arrived at the hospital I just knew my son was no more. I had already lost hope and prepared myself for the worst. Fortunately, that was not the case as the doctors did their best and saved my boy. He was put on oxygen, an oxygen rate monitor and an instrument to assist in bowel movement since the doctors noticed he was having diarrhea,” added Esther.

According to Dr. Mutua Mbuvi, a Medical Officer at MMUH who attended to baby Samuel, the little one had aspirated. Aspiration occurs when liquid or something you have swallowed goes down the wrong way and enters your airway or lungs.

“When we reported to work on that particular morning, I remember seeing a gentleman arriving at our Outpatient Department on a motorbike holding a baby covered in a shawl and mumbling something like “the baby is not breathing.” He was escorted straight to the emergency room by the security personnel.

Dr. Mbuvi recounts how a team of two doctors and two nurses commenced airway and breathing resuscitation, while one of the doctors was checking the circulation and making sure the heartbeat was above 60 beats per minute.

“The Pediatric advanced life support protocols require that if the heartbeat is below 60 beats per minute, we need to do active cardiopulmonary resuscitation,” added Dr. Mbuvi.

From baby Samuel’s father’s narration of the events that occured prior to the incident, Dr. Mbuvi says they were able to come up with a working diagnosis of choking with a possibility of aspiration pneumonia, and with that guidance they started working on treatment.

The baby was put on an oxygen monitor to generate real-time oxygen levels and heart rate. “As we continued giving breaths and suctioning the boy started responding and breathing on his own however the breathing was not adequate and it was not at the level, we wanted it to be, so we continued administering breaths,” Dr. Mbuvi said.

He further added “luckily our efforts and skills came in handy and we were able to resuscitate and Samuel began to breathe on his own. He was now put on oxygen and maintained in the Emergency Department for monitoring.

Antibiotics and IV fluids were initiated to give the child energy.

Samuel did so well and his cry gave his parents a lot of hope. Their relief as the child was

PHOTO | JACQULINE NGURE Esther Anyango’s heartfelt note to the MMUH team that saved her son’s life

PHOTO | EFFIE SANDE Esther Anyango with Baby Samuel soon after being discharged

transferred to the ward could not be hidden.

“Had the baby not responded to the resuscitation, then we would have had to place him in the intensive care unit (ICU) whereby he would be connected to a machine to assist in breathing,” Dr. Mbuvi added.

We have been monitoring the child, and he is actually in the process of being seen by a pediatric cardiologist to have several tests done to rule out cardiac issues. There is a possibility that he may be having a cardiac condition that may have caused the coughing which the parents thought was flu and eventually led them to administer the cough syrup,” said Dr. Mbuvi.

In conclusion, we would like to call upon parents, especially with infants and toddlers to refrain from buying over-the-counter medicine. If the child is not feeling well, take them to the hospital. A chemist will always be the easiest solution in treating specific symptoms that a

child might be showing, but can also be detrimental.

RESTORING DIGNITY TO WOMEN

Women living with fistula benefit from free surgeries at KNH during week-long VVF camp

By Winfred Gumbo and Philip Etyang

Over 45 women living with Vesicovaginal fistula (VVF) underwent corrective surgery at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH).

The hospital in partnership with various stakeholders including Safaricom M-PESA Foundation, Flying Doctors’ Society of Africa, Amref Health Africa, and Royal Media Services offered free corrective surgeries and medical advice during the week-long camp (14th-18th November, 2022).

VVF is a distressing condition in which abnormal communication develops between the bladder and vagina, leading to urinary incontinence. This condition occurs most commonly after obstetrical and gynecological injury.

Speaking during a partnership meeting held on Thursday 17th November aimed at visiting the patients, KNH CEO Dr. Evanson Kamuri, EBS thanked the team for the kind gesture in the work they are

doing to Kenyans by helping restore dignity to women.

“Fistula is an embarrassing condition. After the surgeries are done, the women are easily reabsorbed back to the society. We are happy when we put a smile on the faces of our patients,” said Dr Kamuri.

“We

Safaricom M-PESA Foundation Chairman, Mr. Joe Ogutu said that the foundation puts emphasis on partnerships and thanked KNH management for offering the facility and equipment to allow the camp take place.

as a foundation are happy to

PHOTO | STEVE ARWA

KNH CEO Dr. Evanson Kamuri, EBS during a meeting with partners and sponsors of this year’s VVF camp at the KNH boardroom on Thursday 17th of November, 2022.

State of the art incubators at MMUH

restore dignity to women. I thank KNH management for offering the facility and equipment,” said Mr. Ogutu.

“Before we started the camp, we screened 133 women, 45 were admitted, 37 of them were offered physiotherapy and so far 30 women have undergone surgery and are recovering well,” said Dr. Weston Khisa, MBS, the Chairman VVF Committee. “The important thing is any woman who suffers from Vesicovaginal fistula should undergo treatment. The operation does a good job in ensuring women can go back to society and function normally,” he added.

Dr Khisa also revealed that KNH has recorded very good success rates of over 90% on all VVF corrective surgeries.

After the meeting, the team paid a visit to patients who had already undergone the surgery.

While in the wards, Ms. Ruth Njoki Kuria, a 53-year-old woman from Kiambu County who underwent successful corrective surgery revealed that she had suffered from the condition for over a year before KNH came to her rescue.

“Nilidhani sitapona. Ningependa kushukuru sana KNH na Safaricom kwa kunisaidia. Nikona stage one cancer na nimekuwa nikienda Kenyatta University Referral Hospital kupata radiology. Huko ndio waliniandikia barua ya kukuja Kenyatta kupata matibabu ya Fistula,” (“I thought I would never get well. I am very grateful to Safaricom

and KNH for the treatment. I have stage one cancer and I have been undergoing radiology at Kenyatta University Teaching and Referral Hospital. They are the ones who referred me to KNH for the VVF camp free treatment),”she said.

46-year-old Ms. Margaret Njeri Kanja from Kandara in Muranga County who also underwent successful corrective surgery during the camp said she got to know about it from Inooro FM and immediately packed her bags. She is very grateful to KNH and the partners for the free corrective surgery.

“I got to know about the camp through Inooro FM while at home. I immediately packed my bags and came to KNH. I did not pay even a cent for the surgery. I am very grateful for the excellent service. I must write a positive comment on how I have been treated here since arrival last week Thursday,” she said.

Estimates indicate that at least 3,000 women develop VVF annually in Kenya alone. However, the grim picture in reality is that there are over 300,000 women in the country who have untreated VVF. Globally, statistics indicate that there are 2 million women living with the condition.

VVF is largely associated with women but also affects the male population. Urinary Fistula is a condition that affects men and is brought about largely through Sexually Transmitted Infections which if untreated for an extended

time may destroy tissues.

Corrective surgery is the only treatment available for VVF. Very few medical facilities in the country are able to perform the surgery because of the limited number of trained surgeons able to conduct the delicate operation. However, Kenya’s biggest referral hospital, KNH, has the ability to handle VVF treatment. The Hospital has a well-trained team of professionals from the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department.

The success of this year’s camp was made possible by a multidisciplinary Committee led by Dr. Khisa who was deputized by Dr. Stephen Mutiso, a Gynaecologist and VVF surgeon.

Since 2014, the VVF partnership has led to over 1,000 successful surgeries being carried out at KNH during the annual camp alone.

For this year, a total of 46 successful surgeries were done.

Newsline wishes the women a quick recovery.

Kenyatta National Hospital

PHOTO | STEVE ARWA

Dr. Stephen Mutiso, Gynaecologist and VVF Surgeon KNH, Dr. Weston Khisa, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Senior Nursing Officer at theatre Clinic 66, Pamela Kerubo and Fistula surgery lead, KNH and Dr. Lado Ismael, Obstetrician, Gynaecologist and VVF Surgeon from Garissa Referral Hospital.

PHOTO | STEVE ARWA A VVF patient is wheeled into theatre at KNH for corrective surgery.

Comic Zone

Laughter, the best medicine!!

By Edel Q. Mwende

Spotify pun

I went to see the doctor with a nasty rash on the top of my leg. I said to him, “The strange thing is when I squeeze the pus out of the pimples, I hear pop songs playing”.

He said, “You have a severe case of spotty thigh”.

Rare no name

The doctor looked at my test results and said, “Sir, you’ve got a very rare disease.”

I said, “How rare?”

He said, “You pick the name.”

Bill served right

A doctor is at a party where he gets to talking to a lawyer friend. He tells the lawyer how sick he is of his friends always asking him for free medical advice. The lawyer says, “Just do what I do, and leave a bill in their mailbox.” The doctor says he’ll give this a try and thanks his lawyer friend. When the doctor gets home, he finds a bill in the mailbox from his lawyer.

I can’t say I do

The doctor told me I might have a marriage phobia and asked if I thought I had any symptoms.

I said, “I can’t say I do.”

He said, “Yeah, that’s the main one.”

Inspirational Quotes

1. “Work hard in silence, let your success be your noise.”- Anonymous

2. “A river cuts through rock, not because of its power, but because of its persistence.”- Jim Watkins

3. “When you have a dream, you’ve got to grab it and never let go.”- Carol Burnett

4. “The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot.”- Michael Altshuler

5. “Life has got all those twists and turns. You’ve got to hold on tight and off you go.”- Nicole Kidman

6. “Be courageous. Challenge orthodoxy. Stand up for what you believe in. When you are in your rocking chair talking to your grandchildren many years from now, be sure you have a good story to tell.”Amal Clooney

7. “You make a choice: continue living your life feeling muddled in this abyss of self-misunderstanding, or you find your identity independent of it. You draw your own box.”- Duchess Meghan

8. “At the end of the day, whether or not those people are comfortable with how you’re living your life doesn’t matter. What matters is whether you’re comfortable with it.”- Dr. Phil

9. “Belief creates the actual fact.”- William James

10. “In a gentle way, you can shake the world.”Mahatma Gandhi