In 2019, Mueni worked in the hospitality sector in Nairobi. However, when the COVID-19 pandemic struck, her workplace closed down. Kenya, like many other countries, enforced multiple lockdowns that adversely affected casual laborers and small businesses. Mueni was among many who lost their jobs.
During this period, Mueni resided with her sister and nephew in the Mathare slums area. As travel between counties was restricted, Mueni and her sister made the decision to relocate to the countryside to stay with their mother, rather than remain in the city without employment.
Their journey to the countryside was eventful. Mueni and her nephew boarded a 14-seater public transport minivan to their village south of Nairobi, amid the chaos in the transport sector caused by the tight curfew. Unfortunately, in a bid to make more money within the curfew limits, many drivers resulted in speeding and other careless driving habits.
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" The minivan that Mueni and her nephew were traveling in was involved in an accident and rolled three times... |
The minivan that Mueni and her nephew were traveling in was involved in an accident and rolled three times, leaving Mueni unconscious. Fortunately, her nephew managed to contact their family, who rushed to the hospital where they were admitted.
Upon regaining consciousness, Mueni found herself hospitalized with severe injuries to her face and had already lost her left arm. Her nephew, though in better condition, also suffered injuries, including the loss of a thumb. Due to the severity of Mueni’s injuries, she was transferred to a larger hospital in Nairobi, for further treatment, where she stayed for four days.
However, the increasing number of COVID-19 cases overwhelmed the hospital, prompting the early discharge of non-COVID patients like Mueni. Reluctantly, Mueni and her nephew went home, wondering where they were going to receive medical attention for their still fresh wounds. When Mueni got home, her neighbors caught wind of what happened to her and one of her neighbors who is an employee at MOHI informed her about our clinic. She assured her that she would receive the necessary care.
Mueni visited the MOHI clinic in Pangani with her nephew, where they received the healthcare they needed, including wound dressing and medication. Every day for four months, Mueni and her nephew would visit the clinic for the medical attention that they needed for free. Recognizing the importance of addressing Mueni’s physical, emotional, and mental health, MOHI’s medical staff recommended that Mueni see one of our counselors to help her heal from the physiological trauma of the accident. Mueni underwent trauma counseling provided by a counselor at MOHI.
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With the support and assistance she received, Mueni made remarkable progress in her recovery, both physically and mentally. Some MOHI staff members even raised funds to pay for her education at MTTI (Missions of Hope Technical Training Institute), where she pursued a course in Early Childhood Development. Today, Mueni works as a teacher’s assistant in a local kindergarten.
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Reflecting on her journey, Mueni is grateful for all the support she received from MOHI’s health department. “MOHI has really helped me come to terms with it all. Now there isn’t anything that I think is too big for me to handle! Sometimes I even forget that I don't have one arm!” Mueni says with a chuckle. Her nephew, who also received care at MOHI, has recovered fully and is now thriving academically at our school in the Mabatini community. Mueni's ability to support her family financially and emotionally underscores her resilience and the positive outcomes of quality, comprehensive healthcare interventions.
“If it wasn’t for MOHI’s doctors and counselors, I most likely would have become a beggar on the streets like many people do after such occurrences. I am grateful that now I am a teacher and can even afford to educate my siblings and my nephew!” 
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