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Shantele Kemboi, a one-year-old girl from Kimose, Mogotio, was born with a congenital heart condition.
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On Monday, March 31, she and her mother, Mary Lagat, traveled to India for a crucial surgical procedure.
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The operation in India costs KSh 2 million, with SHA providing KSh 500,000, which means the family needs to gather an additional KSh 1.5 million.
A household from Kimose, within the Mogotio Constituency in Baringo County, now sees a glimmer of hope for their one-year-old girl suffering from a congenital heart condition.
A month following their efforts to secure funding for her medical expenses overseas, Shantele Kemboi journeyed to India accompanied by her mother, Mary Lagat, for surgical procedures.
Throughout February, Mary and her daughter made Kenyatta National Hospital their temporary home as they waited for approval to travel to India for the crucial operation that could save the young girl’s life.
The worried mother mentioned that her daughter’s heart condition made her frail and struggling with feeding adequately compared to her twin brother and peers of similar ages.
“Her respiration seems off, she constantly has a fever, and she becomes extremely fatigued following feedings,” she mentioned in a Citizen TV report.
Gideon Kemboi, Shantele’s father, mentioned that she was born with a congenital heart issue.
He discussed the financial hardships they encountered in obtaining the necessary treatment for her, mentioning that they would have sought help in India sooner if they had possessed the means.
“She has a gap in her heart, and medical professionals mention that her oxygen-rich blood blends with her oxygen-poor blood, which isn’t normal. We couldn’t save up enough money to get her the necessary operation promptly since raising such funds independently was beyond our means,” explained Kemboi.
“It wasn’t an easy situation. We were informed that her surgery was scheduled for February, but we felt helpless since it would cost KSh 2 million, which we couldn’t afford,” explained Shantele’s mother.
What method is being used to cover Shantele’s surgical costs in India?
Kemboi mentioned that they had contacted MIOT Hospital in India, where his daughter’s operation is planned. The facility permitted the family to bring Shantele there as they kept working on gathering funds for her medical expenses.
“I remain optimistic that after arriving in India with my child, we will be able to address the remaining issues subsequently,” he stated.
The Social Health Authority (SHA) will fund only KSh 500,000 out of the needed KSh 2 million, leaving the family responsible for raising an additional KSh 1.5 million to treat the young girl.
Therefore, they are counting on fundraising efforts organized by relatives, acquaintances, and community figures to provide their daughter with a better shot at life.
The Member of Parliament for Mogotio, Reuben Kiborek, expressed gratitude to his constituents for backing Shantele’s medical care, adding that they remain ready to assist the family if further help is required.
He accompanied them to the airport on Monday, April 1, as they left for India.