Zakayo’s eye trauma surgery, Nairobi, Kenya

Zakayo is a carpenter and a father of six children. Zakayo, 68, is a trained carpenter, and he tries to support his family with occasional, casual work in the city. His son, Willys, is sponsored through the Nairobi site. 

Zakayo was violently attacked by a gang while returning home from work. This assault took place near a school where Chalice’s Nairobi site supports sponsored children and nutrition programs. The gang robbed Zakayo and left him with a serious head wound. His left eye was severely damaged. 

A driver from the school came to his aid and took him to the emergency room. There, he was stabilized and prevented from going into shock. After three days, he was moved to a public hospital, where he was treated further. 

 A scan revealed severe trauma to his eye, including significant internal damage and bleeding. They referred him to an eye hospital for specialized care. There, the optometrist diagnosed the injury as requiring lens removal and replacement due to the intensity of the trauma.   

Zakayo urgently needs specialized treatment, but he cannot afford the necessary care. For as long as he is unable to work, his family has no income. The Nairobi site team recognized his situation and has therefore requested a budget to help Zakayo to receive treatment at the eye hospital, where he will undergo surgery to replace his damaged lens. They will also help him cover his national health insurance contribution, which will ensure he can access healthcare in the long-term. 

The total budget comes to $4,002.40 CAD, which includes his eye surgery and auxiliary supplies, medicine, and two years of national insurance coverage.