@itsetyang
This story about an ailing seven-year-old boy in Turkana South has a happy ending after the Star highlighted his plight. Most children aren't so fortunate.
A Cuban doctor and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital made it happen.
Lowesit Tukwali was originally misdiagnosed with tuberculosis. It turned out to be cancer and MTRH treated him at no cost.
Today, after seven months in the hospital, Lowesit is home and happy.
It started as a lump just under his left ear. It was painful and he had trouble swallowing. It was getting larger, the pain was getting worse.
The Grade 1 pupil in Kanaodon, Katilu, was on TB medication from February to August 2019 but his condition deteriorated.
His mother Alice Tukwali, a widow with two other children, was losing hope. She had no more money for treatment.
“Since my son started medication I have been trekking 143km from Kanaodon to Lodwar hospital to seek medication, only to realise much later that he didn’t have tuberculosis,” she said.
Fortunately, a Cuban doctor, Rogers Gonzalez, found out the boy was not suffering from TB as the early medical report read.
Gonzalez told the Star, “I did several tests to determine the cause of the boy’s suffering. Most tests turned out negative; he was negative for adenitis tuberculosis.”
He ordered more tests.
Tukwali camped at Lodwar County Referral Hospital without getting any attention until the Star described her son’s plight, the need for tests and her lack of money.
She said health workers wanted Sh10,000 for tests but she didn’t even have Sh100.
Then, Turkana director of Medical Services Gilchrist Lokoel instructed healthcare workers at LCRH to diagnose his ailment.
They did a tissue biopsy and fine-needle aspiration, then sent samples to the Moi Teacher and Referral Hospital in Eldoret.
