Paying it forward
Edwin Kimani, the breadwinner of his family, sells second hand clothes in Nairobi. For over seven years, he suffered from stomach pains. Every doctor he consulted with, diagnosed and treated him for typhoid. One day, while he was upcountry in the Ishiara Village, his pain grew, and he could not stop vomiting. Despite taking painkillers, the pain persisted. Edwin had visited two hospitals, where he had several ultrasounds, a colonoscopy and a CT scan. The tests eventually revealed that he had colon cancer as a mass in his caecum and a tumour in his large intestines was found.
The doctor had recommended immediate surgery and chemotherapy, but there were no beds available at the hospital. The wait was too long and the pain too unbearable, leading Edwin to seek care at AKUH. He was afraid that he would not be able to afford the surgery he needed. He mentions, “I was desperate to get the help I needed and that had proved futile in the health facilities I had visited before.”
At AKUH, he was referred to Dr Sitna Mwanzi, an oncologist, who recommended immediate surgery and referred him to the Patient Welfare Programme (PWP) to take care of his treatment cost. Soon after, Edwin was admitted, and in June 2016 he underwent surgery and was discharged four days after his surgery. PWP supported him through this, covering 97% of the treatment cost.
Since his surgery, Edwin has been able to lead a normal life, free of pain and discomfort. “I didn’t believe AKUH would do such a noble and honourable act and I was very moved by the gesture. To AKUH and the leadership, I’m very appreciative for coming to my rescue when I was in need. As for my family, words alone cannot describe their joy and appreciation to AKUH. God is surely working through AKUH to restore the health of sick people.”
Today, Edwin and his wife have decided to give back by establishing a small school for the underprivileged. He proudly says, “The support I received from AKUH has helped me develop a helping heart as well. My wife and I established a small school to help educate children whose families are unable to finance them through school.”
