By KABARAJI RICHARD
Kobos village, forty kilometres from Kitale town, the capital of Trans Nzoia county, we accompany the palliative team from the Trans Nzoia County health department who are paying a visit to several patients battling chronic diseases.
The team led by a palliative nurse heads to Kamau Nginges’s house in the village where we meet Leah Waginge who is battling a Gastrointestinal stromal tumour shortened to GIST a type of digestive cancer which mainly attacks the small intestines with a condition characterized by a growth of a special form of the nerve cells along the walls of the small intestines.
Leah, sixty years of age has battled the condition for quite some time and relies on the palliative care nurses and prayers from family members to see to it that her days are normal like any other.
Her woes started four years ago when she discovered a pimple-like inflammation in her lower abdomen but after some time it developed into wounds that did not dry up.
“It started like simple pimples which we did not take much notice of but after some time we were concerned as the wounds did not respond to medication,” notes her husband.
Short period to live
Her close caretaker, her daughter Naomi Wanjiru says that they have been through a lot including ridicule from friends and close family members who gave her a short period to live.
“One of the doctors we approached to attend to our mother gave us six months for her life to end but am happy it is now four years and we are counting more. We want her to reach God’s years.”
Through the support of medics and family members, Leah says that she has grown strong battling the disease which she says can be controlled if well contained.
“Earlier, I was not taking water but after the visits now I take water and eat a balanced diet. That’s why you see me very healthy despite my chronic condition.”
Her husband Kamau says he nearly gave up one day and asked his friends to help him fast and pray to see to it that the disease is only contained in his home and nobody else should pass through which he was passing.
“I had given up on life but after counselling and several visits from the palliative team I positively took up the condition and embraced it and the results you see.”
Leah is among countless other patients battling chronic diseases bravely despite what is associated with their management plus the stigma that comes with it.
Resilience and close family members love
39-year-old George Wanyonyi is such one of the brave warriors as he had to quit his driving job at the county to battle anogenital cancer which started as a swelling in his private parts compounded with a foul smell that led to his wife deserting.
He has since been left relying on palliative caregivers for love, spiritual nourishment and a balanced diet.
All the cases point to resilience and close family members love to see to it that the patients whose numbers are on the increase battle the conditions peacefully minus the stigma associated with the conditions.
This comes as caregivers in the unit complain of interference and the move by Kenyans to show up late to receive the care.
Led by head nurse Esther Jalega, the unit says that most patients showed up while the disease had reached stage four thus giving them a hard time dealing with it.
“Most patients show up late after ignoring initial signs leaving us only to give them encouragement as there is nothing much we can do,” Jalega says.
She adds that superstitions were also rife among Kenyans who believed in prayers and traditional medicines which complicated the diseases.
“Some of our clients resort to prayers saying they had been bewitched but agree to conventional medicines when their conditions had worsened.”
