A family’s battle with rare and ruthless illness that remains misunderstood in Kenya
Philip Langat, who has been a caregiver of relatives who succumbed to motor neurone disease.
Mercy Chelangat I Nation Media Group
Media Source: Nation (Kenya)
Date: 16 July 2025
Dr Herman Ekea, a consultant neurologist at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi, explains that motor neurone disease (MND) is a complex condition that primarily affects the motor nerves responsible for voluntary movement—encompassing everything from limb function to speaking, swallowing, and breathing. Although there is…
Dr Herman Ekea, a consultant neurologist at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi, explains that motor neurone disease (MND) is a complex condition that primarily affects the motor nerves responsible for voluntary movement—encompassing everything from limb function to speaking, swallowing, and breathing. Although there is currently no cure, understanding its manifestations, risk factors, diagnosis, and management is crucial for both patients and their families. “The human nervous system comprises three main types of nerves: motor, sensory, and autonomic. Motor nerves facilitate movement; sensory nerves enable feeling—such as heat, pain, and pressure; and autonomic nerves control secretions, blood pressure, and bowel and bladder function. This process is typically subtle and develops over a period of months to years,” says Dr Ekea.