By Okong’o Oduya
Busia, Kenya: A 14 year old girl is in deep distress in Budalangi Busia county and seeking help from well wishers to access urgent medical attention. The girl is seeking support to stop an abnormal growth on her breasts.
At grade six, Monica (not her real name) started experiencing an abnormal growth on her breast last year and since then her breast has been growing without stopping.
According to the 14-year-old girl, staying with her grandparents when the problem started she thought it was a normal body change since she is currently in her teens but the problem has kept worsening forcing her to seek medical attention.
She first visited Mukhobola health center last year but she was referred to Port Victoria sub-county Hospital, unfortunately, she was referred to Moi Teaching and referral hospital but due to the vulnerability of her family they could not afford to go to Eldoret.
Her relatives opted to take her to Coast general hospital in Mombasa but unfortunately, she could not get the medication attention as intended.
She was later returned home without treatment, which forced her to drop out of school to stay at home due to pain and stigmatization from her classmates.
“It began in December last year and I thought it was the normal change in my teenage life. My breast started swelling. My grandparents took me to Mukhobola health center but they were unable and referred me to Port Victoria Hospital. The hospital could not handle it but instead, they referred me to Aga Khan or Moi teaching and referral hospitals, unfortunately, we didn’t have money to afford the treatment where we were referred instead my uncles took me to Coast general hospital, where they tried but still they were unable to address it. That is how I was brought back home,” Monica explains.
Despite overgrowing, Monica says the breasts are discharging certain fluid, and it’s painful.
“Besides experiencing pain, the breasts are discharging certain fluid that makes it difficult for me to continue with classes. I had to drop out of school for fear of stigmatization. I am just appealing for any well-wisher to step in and help me find treatment so that I can resume learning,” she explains.
Appealing for Help!
Monica’s grandmother says her effort to seek medical attention for her granddaughter has not been unfruitful due to their financial status.
“When we realized the problem, we thought it was a normal body change in any teenage girl but when her breast kept growing that is when we knew there was a problem. We went to the nearby Mukhobola health center then we were referred to Port Victoria Hospital where they told us to go to Agha Khan or Moi Teaching and referral hospital but we could not go due to our financial status,” says the distressed grandmother.
“I am appealing for any well-wisher to come in and give a helping hand to see to it that my granddaughter gets medication to enable her to go back to school. All the hospitals we have visited non has addressed the problem,” she said
Her sentiments were echoed by Mr Boniface Mara adding that due to the vulnerability of the family, Monica has not received the serious medical attention she requires to be well.
“You can see the current status of this family, they can’t afford medication for Mitchell. They have been moving from one hospital to another but in vain. If we can get a well-wisher to come to her aid we will appreciate it so that the girl can go back to school and live a normal girl,” said Mr Mara
However, Mr James Mabele, one of the well wishers, came to her aid by covering her medical bill. According to him, he flew Monica, her grandmother, and one of the nurses to Mombasa where she will undergo surgery to fix the problem which did not happen.
“I may not be able to do much, but I booked surgery for the girl where she will undergo an operation on Thursday. Looking at the status of this family you will realize they require assistance and that is why I came in to give a helping hand,” he said
Mabele appealed to other well-wishers including politicians to come and help Mitchell get the medication she requires before she goes back to school.
He also challenged the county government to equip health facilities in the county to be able to address such cases to avoid a situation where patients are being referred to other counties for medication.
“The family went all the way to Coast general hospital in Mombasa to seek medication, spending a lot of money traveling to Mombasa, they could have saved it if services were offered here,” he said.
