A serious complaint has emerged involving Makueni County Referral Hospital following a dental procedure that allegedly led to severe health complications.
The matter dates back to 2021 when a patient sought treatment at the facility for a tooth problem that later turned into a life threatening condition.
Everlyn Kamanthe says she visited Makueni County Referral Hospital on October 27, 2021 after experiencing tooth pain.
According to her, a dentist at the hospital examined her and recommended that the tooth be removed. She agreed to the procedure, hoping it would end the discomfort she had been feeling.
The extraction was carried out and she was given medicine to take at home.
However, instead of getting better, Everlyn says her condition worsened. She explains that her lower jaw began to swell due to an infection.
The pain increased and she could not eat or pass food on one side of her mouth. The swelling became severe and pus started coming out from the area where the tooth had been removed.
She claims that the muscles on that side of her face stopped functioning completely.
“Meno ikatolewa na nikapewa dawa za kumeza but bado ilikuwa na uvimbe painful..ikawa hata siwezi kula au kupitisha kitu hiyo side….sasa hapo penye imetolewa kukaanza kuwa na uvimbe na panatoka usaha…muscles za hiyo side zikaaacha kufanya kazi kabisaa,” Everlyn narrates.
She says she returned to the hospital for further consultation. According to her, doctors later informed her that the infection had spread and that she needed specialized treatment in Nairobi.
She claims she was told to pay Ksh.20,000 for tissue to be taken to Kenyatta for further examination and that her lower jaw might have to be removed because it had been affected.
“Daktari akakuja kuniambia mahali imefika itabidi tutoe nyama iende Kenyatta…nikamuuliza kwa nini akasema itabidi nilipe Ksh.20,000 tufanye hivyo na akasema lazima nitatolewa lower jaw sababu imekuwa afffected…nikamuuliza ‘daktari wewe ndio ulining’oa meno na mbona hukuniambia kuhusu hii infection?” Akasema yeye alifanya kazi yake…na hakuna kitu ingine,” adds Everlyn.
The situation took a heavy toll on her personal life. She says the medical problem and its effects strained her marriage, and she was eventually chased away from her matrimonial home.
With support from well wishers, she managed to raise funds for surgery at Megalife Hospital where doctors removed the infected lower jaw. She is now waiting for a third surgery that will involve taking bone from her pelvic area and fixing an artificial jaw before new teeth can be placed.
On their part, officials from the dental department at Makueni County Referral Hospital maintain that they followed proper procedures during the initial treatment.
Dr. Saul Nyambane, a dental surgeon at the facility, states that the patient was attended to and taken through the treatment process. He says she later disappeared and returned with claims of negligence.
According to him, the hospital reassessed her condition and referred her to Nairobi Dental Hospital, where she was diagnosed with a bone tumor.
Hospital officials say they are open to reviewing the case again and are willing to work together with the patient to ensure she receives the best possible care.
Dr. Nyambane adds that after investigations and treatment in Nairobi, there were plans for surgery but the patient has not returned to the hospital. He has advised her to go back so the process can be reviewed once more.
The case has raised concerns among members of the public about patient safety and accountability in medical procedures.
