Lumakanda County Hospital entrance/Courtesy
A family in Munyuki Sub-location of Lumakanda Ward in Lugari Sub-County is still coming to terms with the death of their kin after giving birth to a baby girl at the Lumakanda Level 4 Hospital on Sunday, February 11, 2023.
A close family member, Yvonne (not her real name), shared the harrowing experience that Deborah Mmbone, 31, underwent before passing away at the facility due to what the family believes was negligence by the hospital staff.
The cousin, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Deborah fell down while at the maternity ward just after giving birth, but the staff in charge were reluctant to attend to her and later discharged her before determining the effect of the fall or treating her.
“She fell down while trying to climb her bed at the maternity ward. The doctor learned of the incident but still discharged her without attending to her. When she got home, she was overwhelmed and went back the same day in the evening,” she said.
Yvonne accused the staff of neglecting her cousin.
“The person in charge sent for Sh40 painkillers from outside the facility. They did not attend to her the whole night; they only attended to her in the morning by adding her drips of water,” she continued.
Yvonne said her cousin fell down again on that day, further complicating the situation. She later died while still at the hospital, after the doctors delayed transferring her to another hospital.
Yvonne said postmortem results done at the Kakamega County Referral Hospital revealed her cousin died after bleeding internally in the pelvic region.
She believes that her sister would not have died if the medics had taken her issue seriously.
“If they could have attended to her, my cousin would still be alive. So young and the family depending on her, she has just gone like that over something that could be controlled. The baby she has left behind will never see her mother,” she said.
Deborah was laid to rest last Saturday after the family decided to “leave the matter to God”.
The baby, whom Yvonne said is healthy and doing good, is under the care of the family.
What did the hospital say?
A hospital officer believed to be in charge of the maternity wing, whose number was accessed from the internet, refused to comment on the allegations of negligence by their staff and asked the reporter to turn up physically to be given the facility’s side of the story.
She said she was not in a position to give details of what transpired.
Efforts to reach the Lugari Sub-County Ministry of Health officer were futile, for he could not respond to calls.
The facility has faced backlash from the public following a number of cases in which women die during or after giving birth, with families blaming the hospital staff of negligence.
What did the area MCA say?
Lumakanda Ward MCA Bernard Mulama said he was aware of the incident and had intervened to support the family and give the deceased a decent burial. He also donated some money to buy the infant milk.
Mr. Mulama said that the hospital management told him the woman died because she failed to adhere to instructions and left the hospital without permission.
“The hospital said the medic in charge told her not to leave the facility until it was allowed, but her husband came for her and took her home. When the doctor in charge came to check on her, she was missing. She later came back,” he said.
As for the facility sending patients to buy drugs outside the hospital, Mr. Mulama said that was justifiable because the hospital did not have all kinds of medicine because what the governor distributed recently was only 60% of what’s required.
He also blamed his opponents for inciting the community against the hospital, saying that only half the allegations against it were true.
Mr. Mulama, however, said that he’s working to see that the relationship between the facility and the local community is repaired to restore service to quality standards.
“I will be conducting something like a public participation event to try and heal the relationship between the facility and the community, which has been so negative. Any medical officer found to be incompetent, I will ensure they are transferred and the quality of service is assured,” he said.
He also promised to take stun action against anyone found guilty of stealing drugs from the hospital and selling them.
Sam Oduor is the editor-in-chief at the Western Kenya Times who leverages the power of the Internet in telling stories that shape opinions.
