Makueni County Referral Hospital has come under scrutiny following claims by a former patient that a dental procedure carried out at the facility in 2021 left her with serious complications that nearly cost her life and forced her to undergo multiple corrective surgeries.
The patient, Everlyn Kamanthe, says she visited the hospital on October 27, 2021, after experiencing dental problems and was advised by a dentist to have a tooth removed.
According to Kamanthe, the extraction was followed by medication and discharge, but her condition deteriorated shortly afterwards.
She says she developed severe swelling on her lower jaw and intense pain, which made it difficult for her to eat. The affected area later became infected, prompting her to return to the hospital for further consultation.
In an emotional account, Kamanthe told journalists that the complications escalated rapidly and that the infection spread, leaving part of her lower jaw severely affected.
“I was given medicine after the tooth was removed, but the swelling and pain continued. I could not eat on that side and the situation kept getting worse,” she said.
Following a review at the dental department, Kamanthe says she was informed that her condition required specialised treatment and was referred to Nairobi for further management.
She claims she was told that the damage to her jaw had become extensive and that surgery would be necessary to remove the affected tissue before she could be referred for advanced care.
Kamanthe further alleges that when she questioned why the infection had not been detected earlier, she was not given a satisfactory explanation.
The prolonged illness, she says, took a heavy toll on her personal life and finances. She claims the complications contributed to the breakdown of her marriage and forced her to seek help from well-wishers to raise funds for further treatment.
She later underwent surgery at Megalife Hospital, where doctors removed part of the infected lower jaw.
Kamanthe now says she is awaiting a third surgical procedure, which will involve bone grafting and reconstruction, before a permanent dental replacement can be done.
“I am now waiting for another operation where bone will be taken from my pelvic area so that an artificial jaw can be fixed and teeth placed,” she said.
However, the hospital has disputed claims of negligence.
Speaking to the media, Saul Nyambane, a dental surgeon at Makueni County Referral Hospital, said the patient was attended to and managed according to clinical procedures.
“We attended to the patient and took her through the treatment process. At some point, she disappeared and later returned with a complaint of negligence on the part of the hospital,” Dr Nyambane said.
He added that when Kamanthe later returned to the facility, she was re-evaluated and subsequently referred to Nairobi Dental Hospital for further assessment.
According to Dr Nyambane, specialists later established that Kamanthe was suffering from a bone tumour, a diagnosis that, he said, explained the severity of her condition.
“She was later diagnosed with a bone tumour,” he said.
Hospital officials maintain that the medical team acted professionally and in the patient’s best interests, and insist there was no deliberate neglect during the initial treatment.
The management has also indicated that it remains open to reviewing the case and working with the patient to address any outstanding concerns.
“After investigations and treatment in Nairobi, there were plans for further surgery. However, the patient has not returned to the hospital again,” Dr Nyambane added. “We advise the patient to come back so that we can go through the process together and establish the best way forward.”
The case has reignited debate over patient safety and accountability in public health facilities, particularly in county referral hospitals, where complex cases are increasingly being handled amid limited specialist resources.
Kamanthe, meanwhile, is appealing for support as she prepares for the final stage of her treatment, saying her only hope is to fully recover and rebuild her life after years of medical and emotional distress.
