Kaloleni family seeks help to secure son’s body for burial

A family in Kaloleni sub-county, Kilifi county is stranded after they failed to raise the hospital and mortuary bills to secure their son’s body for burial.

Shaban Juma, 19, a Form 3 student at Mwandodo secondary in Kaloleni, died at the Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital on January 30, where he was rushed following stomach complications.

His father, Juma Chonga, on Friday, told the Star they were supposed to remove the body from the hospital morgue the same day for burial on Saturday but this could not happen.

“Things are thick for us and there is nothing else we can do. If there is any way somebody can help us out, I would appreciate it,” Chonga said.

The hospital and mortuary bill amounted to Sh222,295 but the family has only managed to raise Sh55,000.

The balance of Sh167,295 is still a tall order for the family, whose breadwinner, Chonga is a tuk-tuk driver in Mombasa.

Juma’s mother fell ill upon receipt of the news of her firstborn’s death and is recuperating at home.

The family is worried her health condition, coupled with the financial stress the family is going through could deteriorate and make things worse.

Zuhura Akiba, Juma’s cousin, said they have looked for help from their local leadership but nothing tangible has been forthcoming.

“We have gone to our leaders but so far, they have not been of help. Some do not pick up our calls and some have told us they will get back to us. We are still waiting,” Akiba said.

Juma, who has left behind three siblings, started complaining of a severe headache around January 21 while in class.

According to Akiba, he went home and took some painkillers but the headache persisted and he had to go to a local dispensary for a check-up.

His condition did not improve and had to change dispensaries for further medication.

Still, nothing worked and he had to travel to Mombasa for further medication at the Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital.

By this time, his stomach had started bloating.

At CGTRH, he was examined and found to have a section of the small intestines rotting and had to be removed through surgery, while other intestines had intertwined in a way that blocked the movement of elements inside.

A second surgery was conducted successfully to rectify the intertwining of the intestines but shortly after he died.

“We had thought he was making it because his mother had called him and he answered saying he was fine. That was the last time he spoke to us,” Akiba said.

The family is seeking help to clear the remaining hospital and mortuary bill of Sh167,295.

The hospital said they are looking into the possibility of waiving some of the bills.