Nairobi Woman Rep. Esther Passaris Undergoes Surgery

Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris has successfully undergone a thyroidectomy at Nairobi Hospital.

Passaris has revealed she has been suffering from goiter for the last ten years and underwent an operation after advice from her physician.

"I kept details of my thyroidectomy low key until I knew I was out of danger. I thank God for the faith that reassured me that my work is not yet complete. I remain eager to learn and serve Him with humility," Passaris says in a video shared on Sunday.

The first-term MP says the condition had been causing her breathing problems, made her choke while sleeping, memory loss as well as gain weight.

"The doctor said that he would decide on the way forward once he was in. On getting to the surgical table, he realized that the second thyroid was equally damaged so he decided to remove both."

"I will be on a medication called levothyroxine for the rest of my life to do what the thyroid usually does," she adds.

She says she opted to have the procedure done in Kenya as opposed to the United Kingdom, where her family preferred. She has implored the Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) to carefully examine the levels of iodine in salt so as to reduce cases of goiter in the country.

"It has been growing over the last 10 years. Now it has become more recognizable and I choke at night sometimes. I even find it hard to maintain my steady breath," the politician notes.

 "If our salt had enough iodine, we would reduce the number of goiter cases. KEBS have to test all salt in the market and ensure the levels of iodine are the required ones needed to prevent goiter."