Good Turns That Change Lives – Nurse Naomi Wanjiru Gives Back

The USAID funded Tuberculosis Accelerated Response and Care (TB ARC) activity team in the company of Nurse Naomi Wanjiru set out on a journey to Kwale County to visit Ndulu Muthui, a child recovering from TB of the spine.

Naomi contributed part of her 2015 Kochon Award prize money to support six-year-old Ndulu Muthui. Through the support of Centre for Health Solutions- Kenya (CHS), she handed over support items to the child’s family including a corset to support Ndulu’s back, books, and a bicycle to facilitate her movement to and from school as she lives more than three kilometres away from the school.

After a one-hour drive from Ukunda, we took a turn off the highway leading to Tanzania on rough terrain, towards Lunga Lunga. The landscape difference was evident, and with a slight rise in temperature, the region seemed forgotten as only scrublands covered the dry sandy region.

Grass thatched village homes stood about a kilometre from each other, a characteristic of Kwale County’s scarce population. After driving for 45 minutes down the dusty, bumpy road, we arrived at Godo Dispensary, a health centre where Ndulu received TB treatment.

We picked Mr Mumo the Community Health Volunteer (CHV) who identified Ndulu’s condition and referred her for medical examination; he would guide us to Ndulu’s home 20 kilometres away.

On a 45-minute drive to Ndulu’s home through a thicket-bordered road, across the border of Tanzania and Kenya, it was difficult to imagine that was the distance Ndulu and her grandmother had to cover on foot to follow up on TB treatment.

As we approached a small traditional house made of dried mud, an elderly woman in the company of five children came out to welcome us. She introduced herself as Ndulu’s grandmother. Ndulu was easy to identify owing to the deformed back resulting from her illness. She however appeared stronger and healthier compared to the last time we had seen her in pictures sent to us by Lunga Lunga sub county TB and Leprosy Coordinator (SCTLC) Rhoda Pola during her treatment.

Naomi was clearly emotional as she hugged Ndulu; they were meeting for the first time since Naomi heard of the little girl’s plight. Naomi was wistful but excited. Ndulu’s parents were also present and they were delighted to meet us. It was at this point that we introduced ourselves and Naomi eagerly handed over the support items to Ndulu. “Three years ago I suffered from a problem similar to Ndulu’s and I was bed ridden for one year but I am now cured,” said Naomi.

She explained that the visit was very significant, “I am glad that Ndulu did not give up, thus let this visit be an inspiration to Ndulu so that it can be a testimony that will bring change in this village.”

TB ARC Chief of Party Dr Brenda Mungai also expressed her happiness to see Ndulu’s improved health and commended CHV Mr Mumo, for the good work. “I am happy for the good work that Mumo and other CHVs are doing, so let us support them in spreading the word about TB,” she said.

She also commended Lunga Lunga SCTLC Rhoda Pola and Kwale County CTLC Lawrence Tanui for their keen follow up on patients. “We are not taking it for granted that Ndulu finished her treatment, thank you Rhoda and Lawrence,” she said.

Dr Mungai encouraged more efforts in reducing the TB burden saying, “Let us encourage contact tracing and encourage patients not to shy away from treatment as TB can be cured.”

NDULU’S EXPERIENCE
At the tender age of three, Ndulu developed extra-pulmonary TB that affected her spine. She could barely walk and had a swelling on her back that had been drastically developing.

One day, health care workers who were visiting households for the polio vaccination campaign identified her and recognised a number of TB symptoms.

NAOMI’S EXPERIENCE
Upon learning of Ndulu’s plight, Kochon Award winner Naomi Wanjiru was compelled to support the young girl, more so as she had walked through a similar journey. She had only worked at Engineer Hospital in Nyandarua County for six months when she started suffering from constant back pain that was later diagnosed as TB of the spine. She bravely took anti-TB medication for six months while in critical condition; she could hardly walk without support. After the treatment, she was declared free of TB.

Two years later, Naomi learnt that part of her spine was collapsing, prompting her to seek advanced medical attention in India. After a successful operation and physiotherapy, Naomi’s resolve did not wane as she continues to care for TB patients at the same health facility to date; a selfless service that saw her receive the 2015 Kochon Prize.

It is estimated that about 200 children die every day from TB. Majority of these deaths are as a result of misdiagnosis. Children also present symptoms that are not directly linked to TB and this can particularly be complicated when diagnosing extra-pulmonary TB. Diagnosing TB in children is further complicated by the fact that majority of children, especially those below five years of age, cannot produce sputum.