She applied the ointment to her infant’s eyes five times a day for two days before realizing something was wrong.
The incident happened at Eldobase Chemists in Kitale and quickly went viral on social media, sparking a national debate about pharmacy standards, accountability, and patient safety.
In a widely shared video, the mother is seen confronting the attendant inside the shop, holding up a tube of acyclovir cream, a medicine meant for skin infections, and asking why she was given it instead of the prescribed eye drops.
The attendant admitted the mistake, saying 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 move the discussion to a private area.
By the time the mother realized the error, her child had been crying in pain with every application. She immediately returned to the doctor, and the child was treated as an outpatient.
The mother has confirmed that her child’s eyes are not seeing. Medical assessment showed that only one eye was affected, and the condition improved with treatment.
The incident sparked outrage. Residents gathered outside the chemist, some playing the viral video repeatedly, calling for the shop to be shut down.
The anger was not just about this child. It reflected wider frustration over the quality of care in local pharmacies.
Online reactions were strong. Many called for legal action, highlighting the seriousness of dispensing errors. Others reminded parents to check prescriptions carefully before using medicine.
For the mother, policy debates are secondary. She wants accountability, ensuring no other parent goes home with the wrong medicine and sees their child in pain.
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