Kiprop gets govt, Prisons assistance

Uganda’s second best marathon runner Jackson Kiprop is steadily improving, family sources and authorities at Mulago have said.
Speaking to the Daily Monitor yesterday, Michael Kusuro, Kiprop’s elder brother who accompanied him from Eldoret and has been beside the athlete, said he had even fed him on juice and porridge yesterday morning.

Kusuro said doctors hinted at a possibility of the runner getting back to his duties soon after the kidneys, which had malfunctioned, started “picking up”.
“My brother is responding to treatment. He can even hear words and nod. I talked to him. I told him you will be fine and he nodded his head. We are very thankful to the government, especially President Museveni and the Prisons authorities for the timely response to the problem,” Kusuro said.

The hospital’s spokesperson, Enock Kusasira, said Kiprop was in stable condition and under expert doctors. “He has been here for four days and experienced doctors are handling him. Tests were done and it was found out that he had kidney failure. We have a lot of hope that the kidneys will be okay and that is why we have not put him on Dialysis,” Kusasira said.

This comes after the government on Tuesday wrote to Mulago Hospital, saying they were taking over the financial obligations for the athlete’s treatment.
In a January 29 letter signed by Maj Leonard Chemonges, the deputy head in charge of mobilisation in the President’s office, to the Executive Director Mulago National Referral Hospital, it is said the Museveni learnt of the sickness “with shock”.

“The President has, consequently, directed that you [Mulago] offer the patient all the required treatment and also provide for the attendant(s). You should, thereafter, forward the bill to State House Comptroller for settlement,” the letter seen by this newspaper reads in part.
Kusasira, however, could not confirm receipt of the letter by the hospital officials.

Kiprop’s family also said Prisons Services had offered to clear the outstanding dues at Cedar Medical Association in Eldoret where the athlete was first treated from and also pay Henry Nambafu, Kiprop’s doctor for his services to the athlete while enroute to Mulago. Prisons authorities also gave the athlete’s family pocket money for help while at Mulago.

The family said Frank Baine (Prisons spokesperson), James Kisambu (Acting Assistant Commissioner of Prisons –Health Services), Phylis Chemutai (Kapchorwa Woman MP), and a one Dr Andama (Medical Superintendent Prisons Services) had so far visited the athlete.

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