- Kenyatta National Hospital turned to social media after an elderly patient could only recall his name and nothing else
- Kenyans rallied behind the appeal, and the response came far sooner than anyone at the hospital had anticipated
- The man's true identity, hidden even from himself, was finally uncovered through the power of a single shared post
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When an elderly man arrived at Kenyatta National Hospital unable to remember where he came from or who his family were, doctors faced a wall.
Source: Facebook
All he could offer was his name: Ndungu Chege. With nothing else to go on, the hospital made an unusual decision: they took their search to the public.
KNH posted a photo of the elderly man, dressed in a hospital gown, on social media and asked Kenyans to help trace his relatives.
"Please share widely to help him reunite with his family. He consistently identifies himself as Ndungu Chege but is unable to provide further details about his family or where he comes from. Any information that could help trace his relatives would be greatly appreciated," the hospital wrote in its appeal.
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What followed showed just how powerful collective action on social media can be. Kenyans shared the post widely, and within less than 48 hours, the breakthrough came.
Family members made their way to the hospital, bringing with them the answers that had eluded everyone.
The reunion was captured in a photograph shared online, showing Chege seated in a wheelchair with two family members standing beside him, a doctor nearby. His real name, it emerged, was Stephen Chege Kung'u.
KNH expressed its gratitude to everyone who played a part in making the reunion possible.
"We asked you to share 'Ndungu Chege' image, and thanks to your incredible support, in less than 48 hours, he was positively identified as Stephen Chege Kung'u, reunited with his family, and discharged from the hospital. We cherish every moment we help reunite families through the power of social media. Every share, comment, and effort makes a difference and brings hope to families searching for their loved ones," the hospital posted.
The hospital confirmed that Chege had since been discharged, though his recovery journey continues. He will require home care as well as outpatient clinic visits going forward.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
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