A mother from western Kenya is demanding accountability after a pharmacy worker mistakenly handed her skin ointment instead of the prescribed eye drops for her infant.
The mother applied the ointment to her child’s eyes five times a day for two days before realizing the error.
The incident occurred at Eldobase Chemists in Kitale and quickly went viral on social media, sparking nationwide discussions about pharmacy standards, patient safety, and accountability.
In a widely shared video, the mother confronts the attendant inside the shop, holding up a tube of acyclovir cream—a medication intended for skin infections—and demanding to know why it was given instead of the prescribed eye drops.
The attendant admitted the mistake, explaining that she had been preoccupied with skin medications and did not notice the word “eye” on the prescription.
“What should I do to you? Your apology does not help me. I can sue you,” the mother said, refusing to take the discussion to a private area.
By the time the error was noticed, the child had been crying in pain with every application. The mother immediately returned to the doctor, and the child received outpatient treatment.
Medical assessment revealed that only one eye was affected, and the condition improved with proper treatment.
The incident sparked public outrage. Residents gathered outside the chemist, some replaying the viral video, demanding that the shop be shut down. The anger reflected wider frustration over the quality of care in local pharmacies.
Online reactions were equally strong. Many called for legal action, highlighting the seriousness of dispensing errors, while others reminded parents to carefully check prescriptions before administering medicines.
For the mother, policy debates are secondary. She wants accountability to ensure that no other parent inadvertently exposes their child to harm due to negligent pharmacy practices.
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