Grace’s mother responded well to treatment and was discharged. At the time of her mother’s death, her father was still admitted. Following Leah’s death, Adwar was discharged to lead the burial arrangements but his condition worsened and was readmitted at the Kisumu County Hospital.
He was later transferred to Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital where he died on May 23. Grace’s parents were both buried on June 4.
“Doctors at St Consolata Hospital said my parents had malaria but their sudden deaths have left many questions,” says Grace.
Isolation centre
Few miles away at Kadero village, the memory of the late Ibrahim Omollo’s demise is still fresh among family members.
He was buried last Saturday after losing the battle to Covid complications at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital’s isolation centre.
His son, George Omondi, who took him to the hospital, says the family could not believe their father was no more, after ailing for just a few days. “ We did not expect that our dad would die at this early age. We prayed and fasted for three days for his recovery but unfortunately our prayers went unanswered when he lost the battle,” Omondi recalled.
He says his 70-year-old father developed Covid symptoms and was rushed to the facility for treatment but he did not make it.
Initially, Omondi says the old man showed signs of improvement before his condition deteriorated.
“Tests were conducted and the results came out positive. This necessitated his admission. After a while, his condition worsened and he was transferred to an isolation ward where he lost it,” said Omondi.
“We are really saddened by our father’s loss. He was a strong believer in God,” adds Omondi. In the neighbouring Rapogi village, another family is yet to come to terms with the death of their kin, who is also suspected to have died of Coronavirus. Gordon Okumu, 66, died on May 24 and was buried three days later.
Sheril Awuor, 22, who was taking care of the deceased, says his death came too soon and took them by surprise. “My uncle was coughing too much before he died. As his condition deteriorated, he also lost strength.
His death was linked to Covid, which is said to have killed many people here in Kajulu,” says Awuor.
Awuor points out that Kajulu area has witnessed many reported cases of people dying from Corona complications.
And at Guba village, family members, relatives and friends of Maureen Mwalo, 28, are racing against time to raise funds for her burial arrangements in compliance with county Covid-19 regulations requiring that bodies be interred within 72 hours
