Mombasa Cement Company pays pupil’s Sh400,000 hospital bill

By Tobby Otum

A teenage boy living with albinism from Kwale county has been forced to live with one eye after undergoing surgery.

Medical officer In charge of the surgery ward at Coast Provincial General Hospital (Coast General Teaching & Referral Hospital) Renson Zoka said the young boy had a tumor in his head that had affected his right eye which had to be removed.

“The boy was admitted at the health facility early last month and underwent medical tests before the decision was arrival at,” he added.

The medical officer told the journalists after diagnosis it was discovered the eye was already spoiled and the only option was to remove it.

The medical officer confirmed Mombasa cement company footed the medical bill of the boy to the tune of sh 400,000.

Zoka pointed out that the cement company chief executive officer [CEO] Hasmukh Patel alias Hasu was perturbed and through their corporate social responsibility (CSR) took up the initiative to cater for his medical bill.

He acknowledged patients undergoing cancer diagnosis must have special treatment countywide

Samson Mwangale, who is a standard 7 pupil at Bidinimole primary school in Lunga Lunga constituency, told journalists the eye problem began during the last general election with swelling and itching throughout.

He narrated that when things were moving from bad to worse he was forced to be admitted to the hospital.

“Two days to last year’s x-mas I underwent surgery to remove the right eye,” he said.

The second born in a family of a farmer, he told journalists he was taken by surprise when he was diagnosed with the illness.

On their part, Mombasa Cement Public Relations officer Samir Bhalloo told the media the boy’s disease is rare and had affected the boy’s education and life in general.

He announced the company has taken the boy’s education burden and will be under the company scholarship at their learning facility in Kilifi county.

‘’Upon his discharge from the hospital the boy will be under the company medical scheme all his life,” he pointed out.