A South Sudanese teenage boy is stranded at Top Hill Hospital in Eldoret, Kenya, due to accumulated medical bills which as amounted to Ksh3.7 million.
Losike Lokuru, 15 – who comes from Kapoeta East County, Eastern Equatoria State – was shot by an unidentified gunman in September 2021, near the Nadapal border town.
“The boy was shot around the pelvic region and the bullet went through the urinal bladder, tearing it,” says Hon. Steven Lowosio, MP representing Kapoeta East at the national parliament in Juba.
The boy was then taken to Lodwar Hospital by his uncle. He was later referred to Hill Top Hospital in Eldoret.”
After successful operations, about three, his parents could not foot the $24,200-bill, prompting the hospital management to keep him.
“The uncle came back to South Sudan, Narus payam, where he tried mobilizing some resources. He raised little money – Ksh76,000, about $500,” he continues.
He appeals to the well-wishers and the government to help the parents foot the hospital bill.
“We would like well-wishers and the government to chip in. We will keep asking for fundraising or donations from anyone who can help to settle the bill,” the lawmaker adds.
Any donation and support can be directed to Hon Steven Lowosio via +211 921 122 297/ +254 799 260 166.
Singaita FM’s attempts to contact the Top Hill Hospital management for comment were not immediately successful.
However, it is illegal to detain patient in hospital over bills, according to Kenyan court.
“Detaining a person in hospital is a classic example of a scenario, where two wrongs don’t make a right. As much as a hospital may be aggrieved by failure to pay the bills, detaining the patient is not one of the acceptable avenues to recover the debt,” ruled Lady Justice Wilfrida Okwany of High Court in 2018.