Nominated Senator Raphael Chimera. [Elvis Ogina, Standard]
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Nominated Senator Esther Okenyuri noted that the welfare of medical personnel was important since they have a heavy burden of ensuring Kenyans get quality medical care which cannot happen if they have challenges at work.

"Even as we look at the quality of services offered by our public health facilities, we need to look into the welfare of our medical personnel. Are they well-taken care off, do they have good working conditions," said Okenyuri.

The Kenya Health Profession Oversight Authority CEO Jackson Kioko told the committee that investigation was ongoing in the manner in which KNH treated the late baby Travis Maina who had a jembe on his head.

Dr Kioko said an inquiry has been launched into the conduct of the hospital in handling the case and a comprehensive report will be submitted to the committee within 30 days including disciplinary action where applicable.

He said the authority is also investigating the manner in which Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital handled the late Maureen Anyango who died after giving birth to twins and late Edward Otieno who was rushed to the facility after a road accident.

"A comprehensive inquiry into the circumstances leading to the death of Maureen Anyango and Edward Otieno will be carried out with a comprehensive report submitted to the Senate Health Committee within 30 days including disciplinary action where applicable," said Dr Kioko.

The Kenya Health Professionals Oversight Authority CEO told the committee that Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital needs to ensure clinical officers involved in reproductive, maternal, neonatal and child care undertake and submit evidence of training in Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal care within four months.

Dr Kioko said Nairobi county government should fast track the operationalisation of the Intensive Care Unit and Trauma Centre at Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital to ease congestion at the Accident and Emergency section and provide critical care services.

He called on the county government to allocate an advanced life support ambulance to Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital to ease referral of critical cases.

Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council Chief Executive Officer David Kariuki told the committee that following of public outcry over the deaths of baby Travis, Anyango and Otieno it had instituted investigations into the matter.

"Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council has sought a comprehensive report from Kenyatta National Hospital and Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital over the manner in which it handled Baby Travis Maina, Maureen Anyango and Edward Otieno before they died," said Dr Kariuki.

He said that they have sought detailed statements from the medical personnel who handled the individual patients and requested for certified and paginated copies of the three patients' files and any other relevant documents that can assist the council.

The committee has interrogated Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi and the family members of the three victims in efforts to establish whether they received appropriate medical care.