President Uhuru Kenyatta has announced the government will set up a fund to pay for the treatment of Kenyans with rare medical conditions. On his Madaraka Day speech, the president alluded to the story published by the Star last week of Felix Mwandeti, a four-year-old boy with rare medical condition.
Felix Mwandeti was born with a tail-like extension on his back. The boy’s mother Mary Musembi said her son was also born with three and two fingers on his hands, a second condition that destabilised his family, causing a rift between his young parents. Ndinda said she lacks the money to give her second born a new lease on life. The family was expected to raise Sh300,000 in 10 days for Mwandeti to be operated on at the Kenyatta National Hospital.
Health Secretary James Macharia has intervened and said the ministry will waive all charges for the operation of four-year-old Felix Mwandeti with a rare growth in the back.
Macharia called the Star to announce that he had discussed the case with the director of medical services Dr Francis Kimani. He said he told the family to report to Afya House next Tuesday so the ministry can carry out operation plans at the Kenyatta National Hospital.
“I thank the Star for publishing the medical appeal on Friday on page one. We have decided to help immediately. The family should see Dr Kimani who will organise with the CEO of the Kenyatta National Hospital so that the boy can be operated on. We shall waive all the charges,” Macharia said.
He said the growth, which looks like a tail protruding from the boys back, is likely to have touched the spine and will require a delicate neurosurgery procedure to be removed so Mwandeti can enjoy his life with confidence like all children his age
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