Girl stuck in Indian hospital after lapse of government medical cover

If Kenya had a working universal healthcare system, Fyona Wanjiku Kabitta would, on November 30, celebrate her 21st birthday at home or, at worst, in a Kenyan hospital.

But Fyona, who is battling a kidney disease, will celebrate the day in an Indian hospital, where she is stuck because her father, Walter Njoroge, cannot afford her medical fees.

After long struggles and repeated relapses, she was flown to Apollo Hospital in India in March 2022 under the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).

Fyona had high hopes. Hopes that the NHIF Edu Afya medical scheme would cover all her medical bills as she had secured a donor of the kidney, her father.

She had also hoped that if the NHIF cover lapsed, the new Social Health Authority (SHA) cover would take over, as promised by President William Ruto’s administration.

Unfortunately, the cover lapsed mid-2023. She is now stranded in India, unable to celebrate her birthday in Kenya, a heartbreaking outcome after three difficult years.

Fyona, the firstborn of Njoroge and the late Beatrice Wangechi, was diagnosed with glomerulonephritis following a kidney biopsy in July 2011, when she was six and a half years old.

The acute kidney failure shocked the family, who knew it was a serious condition and costly to treat and manage.

“We, especially Fyona, fought on through repeated hospital admissions and consultations with doctors both in our home city of Mombasa and in Nairobi, where we made numerous referral trips.

There were many dark moments, tears and a sense of helplessness, but we, as a family and especially Fyona, persevered,” said Njoroge.

He said that Fyona’s condition was and is also very draining emotionally to her and the family, adding that the overwhelming financial costs made the situation worse.

“We are desperately fighting to get her a lifesaving third kidney transplant despite the dire situation, keeping hope alive always and we appeal for support from Kenyans,” said Njoroge. 

Fyona’s first two transplants were done at the same hospital in India through the support of friends, well-wishers, family and the government’s NHIF Edu Afya.

Aged seven years old and in Class One, Fyona underwent her first transplant, arguably making her Kenya’s youngest kidney recipient. Her father was her first donor in December 2011.

“The second transplant in February 2020 suffered complications and hence our urgent travel back here in March 2022,” noted Njoroge.

Njoroge said Fyona is currently surviving without any kidney at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) following the emergency removal of her second kidney in June 2022.

He said that Fyona is also battling serious infections, hih blood pressure (BP), heart, bone, liver, dental and blood clot issues, all taking a toll on her life. 

Fyona, unfortunately, also suffers from other highly sensitised conditions that demand costly blood plasma exchange (plasmapheresis) sessions, which were also planned pre-transplant. 

“She is on chemo cycles too for an expected overall better outcome eventually, cognisant of her abnormally difficult transplant, which, as noted, also requires the advanced desensitisation processes due to her underlying condition,” said a teary Njoroge. 

Njoroge stated that they were praying for Fyona’s health, financial support and the third kidney transplant breakthroughs despite her challenging condition.

“The current estimate is Sh6.5 million, or USD 50,000, to cover hospital bills, living, logistics and the initial one year of costly lifelong post-transplant medical care. I am so grateful to everyone, especially former NHIF, for invaluable support so far,” noted Njoroge.  

He said it was unfortunate that Fyona could not access SHA while in India, as the scheme recognises only the national ID card and not a passport. Njoroge also noted that Fyona turned 18 while still abroad.

“Please, dear friends, well-wishers, our beloved Kenyan Government, leaders, and family—any support to save my daughter will be forever appreciated. It will help bring her home, end her long suffering, and allow her to resume a normal life.

“We remain positive, pushing harder and keeping hope alive despite these difficult circumstances,” said Njoroge.

Njoroge’s worst nightmare is the impending eviction from their apartment in India over accumulated bills in severe winter hitting them hard. 

But Nyali Golf and Country Club chairman Jayne Githere, who is the Mombasa coordinator for Njoroge, said yesterday that they were doing everything possible to bring them back from India before the end of this month.

“Remaining positive all in all for the end of Fyona’s suffering. God immeasurably bless you all... God bless Kenya, God bless us all. Thank you,” he said.