Doors of Hope NGO programs manager Jacqueline Shibalira (L) and Jacqueline Awuor at Komarock Modern Hospital where the latter's two months old baby has been detained over uncleared hospital bills on Monday.A two months old baby boy has been detained at a private hospital in Mavoko for accrued medical bills.The management of Komarock Modern Hospital, Utawala Branch has detained Jensen Okwaro after his mother failed to raise the Sh400,000 fee.Okwaro was admitted to the hospital together with her 32-year-old mother Jacqueline Awuor on July 19, 2017 after they were taken in by good Samaritans.
The child who was 3 weeks old on admission was put in an incubator and treated until his condition stabilized, he is now well and ready for discharge.
Awuor said her neighbors rushed her together with the child to the facility when the boy was in a comma and herself very sick since she had undergone caesarian delivery.
“It was not my choice to seek medication of my child at the private hospital, I had no alternative since nurses in public hospitals had gone on strike when my three weeks son went in a comma. Neighbors brought me to the facility because it is the nearest to my Githunguri rented house where I live,” Awuor told the Star at the hospital on Monday.
She was discharged by the hospital’s management a few weeks ago to raise funds and clear her son’s hospital bills.
Doors of Hope NGO Programmes manager Jacqueline Shibalira said Awuor walked more than 15 kilometers from Githunguri to her office in Athi River after she was referred by Mlolongo assistant county commissioner David Mukung where she had sort assistance.
“I really sympathized with Awuor when she entered my office, I almost shed tears when I heard her story and learning that she had trekked the distance on caesarian stitches,” said Shibalira.
“We have since tried to assist in ensuring the child is discharged but to no avail. I talked to NHIF cooperate affairs officials but they declined to intervene, they said Awuor defaulted servicing her NHIF sixteen months ago,” added her.
Shibalira said the single mother lost her job when the organization she was working for went under 16 months ago, Okwaro is her only child.
She said Awuor paid her savings of Sh51,000 before her release. The hospital’s CEO S.K Nyamu said the woman has to clear the bill before her child is discharged.“I would really like to help but the facility has to run and meet its obligations, we have to pay doctors and nurses who attended to both the mother and child among other expenses,” said Nyamu.She said the NGO had allocated some funds towards the course.