OPINION| My cousin would be alive if there was a CT scan in Malindi

Dannish Odongo in a white T-shirt with his late cousin. Picture/Courtesy

KILIFI, Kenya, Dec 1- “My brother Dennise Awino, cousin, namesake and a kindhearted soul, it was just this Thursday (November 26) when we rode on that scooter motorbike along the streets of Malindi. 

We took ice cream then went to the jetty to absorb the beauty of nature in a sunset and soothing wave. 

We later drove home where you told me about the bike, bought meat and spices where a serious pilau was made (The photo on the profile was taken last week on Thursday at the Malindi jetty.)

We danced that night to all types of music, and we felt genuine happiness.

We visited our relatives and we agreed to hang out in Mombasa this weekend, but you called and said, “bro, I’m not sure I’ll make it. 

The people who laid me off because of Corona have just called me to report back on Monday and I still need to complete this other gig.

Yet on Sunday morning, I receive a call from our cousin who tells me you are involved in a motorbike accident. 

That your leg was bleeding, and you were scheduled for theatre. Later that Sunday night, I receive a call that you were convulsing, and you oscillated between consciousness and unconsciousness. 

Efforts to secure an ICU bed for you in Mombasa was futile because nurses are on strike. 

I was worried but we said a prayer to you and committed to support your recovery.

Then this morning (November 30) at 2 AM, we were told of the tragic news that you’ve passed on. 

Brother, why didn’t you hint that you were saying goodbye that day when we danced, laughed and talked about the future? 

You didn’t say that was the last day we would hang out and make memories together. 

There wasn’t any hint on your body that a few days later, you’d be with the angels.

Oh, my namesake, I’m broken! This life is short! Let’s make it count!

Rest in Peace Dennis Awino Ndaya aka Daddy! Till we meet again.” 

My cousin got involved in an accident (motorbike vs motorbike) at about 9:30 AM on Sunday. 

He was taken to Malindi hospital by good Samaritans and rushed to theatre to be operated on the visible bleeding injury on his thigh. 

Since they don’t have a CT scan in the entire Malindi area, they most likely missed other non-visible injuries that led to a series of convulsions in the afternoon. 

They called Mombasa to get an ICU bed and they weren’t admitting because the nurses are on strike. 

It would take another 7 hours before he was ‘stabilized’ and released for transfer to a private hospital in Mombasa.

 By that time, it was already late, and the damage was done.

He died on the way at 2 AM. 

My cousin was a hardworking, 33-year-old man who dedicated his life to the eradication of HIV/AIDS. 

His entire life was ahead of him. 

He was building a 3-bedroom house in Malindi and he shared how he wanted to complete it in 2021. 

We talked about family, the future, plans to grow together & strengthen our family bond. 

We are both named after his grandfather jaduong’ Dennis Odongo. 

They had the money, but poor facilities failed them (remember that MP who died even though he had an 8 M insurance cover because of poor facilities?). 

For those who don’t understand, that’s politics. 

Whoever you put in office has the ability to save your life or fail you.

Assuming that systems worked, he would have been picked by an ambulance that responds faster. 

All the facilities he needed for the preliminary preservation of life should have been in Malindi. He should have been transferred to Mombasa early enough.

But since we are a great nation that needs constitutional amendments to stock, equip and staff our public hospitals and provide essential public services to cushion the vulnerable against such avoidable loss of lives, we’ll talk about the BBI.

I’d really love to know where they’ll get all the signatures when our sons and daughters are dying with their fingerprints.

Death too will die one day!” 

Dannish Odongo is a communication expert who pens down a painful tale of how he lost his cousin on Monday due to a failed health sector.