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By Mercy Kahenda
Nakuru, Kenya: A man’s choice to help his wife in child delivery, instead of rushing her to hospital for specialised attention, cost the woman’s life.
The 25-year-old woman from Njoro’s Chebitete Village in Nakuru County died of excessive bleeding while giving birth in her home, but the baby boy was delivered safely.
According to a brother-in-law of the deceased, Bonny Kenduiywa, the woman’s husband decided to help her give birth at home. However, the man refused to talk to journalists who visited his home.
Local midwives
John Rono, a neighbour, said the man informed them of the incident when it was too late to save the situation.
“The man informed us after the death of his wife and there was nothing we could do at that point,” said Rono, adding that had he made known his challenge, they would have helped to save his wife’s life.
Other neighbours blamed the man for the death, saying even if he didn’t want to take his wife to hospital he should have called local midwives to help her.
Police probe
The neighbours said a majority of pregnant women from the village seek help from midwives at a cost of Sh1,000, especially when hospitals are not accessible.
The nearest public hospital offering maternity care is the Njoro Health Centre, 15km away from this village.
“Other hospitals in this area are private and charge between Sh2,000 and Sh3,000, which most people cannot afford,” said a neighbour.
Njoro OCPD Esau Echorokodi said he had not received an official report but would send officers to investigate the matter.
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