Seven babies die at hospital as health staff’s strike bites

Seven babies reportedly died in a day at the Rift Valley Provincial General Hospital in Nakuru as the ongoing health workers strike continues.

A nurse told The Standard that the deaths which happened on Wednesday, are attributed to acute shortage of staff at the wing. Currently, the maternity wing is manned by a single medical officer (doctor), according to the nurse.

The doctor, on contract oversees services at the labour ward and also handles Caesarean deliveries (C-section).

“We only have one doctor, who is working with contracted nurses to help women seeking deliveries, but they are overwhelmed,” said the medic.

County Public Health Chief Officer Samuel King’ori confirmed the deaths but said the cases were referrals from neighbouring counties brought in a little too late.

Paralysed services

“It is sad that women due for delivery arrived at the hospital too late, when doctors could do nothing to save lives of the babies,” he said.

The strike by health workers that entered its third week, has paralysed services across the country as the workers push for better working conditions.

Doctors joined nurses and clinical officers in the strike this week, as both the national and county governments threatened to sack them saying the strike was illegal.

The deaths of the babies was reported at the Margaret Kenyatta Mother Baby Wing of the hospital, where services have been scaled down due to the strike.

The hospital receives referral patients from Bomet, Narok, Baringo, Kericho, Nyandarua, Laikipia and Samburu counties.

The deaths were reported a week after patients with birth complications complained of being delayed to be taken to the theater due to shortage of staff.

It took two weeks for Linnet Mijide from Langa-langa Estate in Nakuru Town East to be operated on.

Mijide, 38, was booked for operation on December 3, only to be attended to on December 17, after she began developing abdominal pain.

Teresia Mumbi, from Rongai Sub-county too was also admitted on December 3, but delivered on December 16. Mumbi said she was scheduled for an emergency delivery on admission, but was informed to wait, with no clear reasons given.

The outgoing medical superintendent Dr Joseph Mburu said C-sections are elective surgeries and not an emergency.

“Doctors have a reason to why the women have not been operated on. They have to get everything in order,” said Mburu who has been transferred to Molo Sub-county Hospital.

However, Dr Fredrick Kareithia, a consultant obstetrician and gynecologist based in Nairobi said though women in need of elective surgery can wait, prolonged delays may jeopardise their lives, and those of unborn babies.

Kareithia said pregnant women are booked for elective C-section, by an expert who examines them, during antenatal clinic, and should therefore be operated on at the scheduled time.

“If a woman is booked for an operation today, it should be done today, to avoid foetal distress, which may result into death of the mother and baby,” Kareithia said.