Kenya’s public healthcare has been on a sick bed for a long time now and the condition seems to be deteriorating by day. Barely a month has passed since the case of Mr Alex Madaga, the hit-and-run survivor who died after he was kept for more than 18 hours in an ambulance because Kenyatta National Hospital could not admit him as they did not have an ICU bed, bared the rot in our public healthcare and even before the flowers on his grave dry, another patient has lost her life.

The latest victim was an expectant woman, Elizabeth Akala, 36, who died on October 27. In what is alleged to be a case of negligence by medics at Kakamega Level 5.

THE 14 HOURS LONG WAIT

Ms Akala is said to have been left unattended 14 hours after arrival at the hospital, where she was referred by her doctor following an ultrasound that showed the baby was dead.

The Kakamega Health executive Penninah Mukabane has however denied the negligence allegations and maintained that Akala had delayed in seeking medical attention.

According to her husband, Zacharia Ludenyo nurses and doctors at the facility told him they had signed off duty and only came to Akala’s aid when she became unconscious.

Following a public outcry, Director of Medical Services Nicholas Muraguri has launched an investigation into the matter.

“The team will verify the allegations of neglect, interview her relatives, hospital management and all health workers that interacted with the patient as well as her medical records,” Muraguri said.

FREE MATERNITY NIGHTMARE

Maternal healthcare in Kenya is now free of charge as promised by the Jubilee Alliance during their pre-election campaign but Negligence by nurses has been the biggest nightmare for expectant mothers

A report compiled by the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights in 2012, following a Public Inquiry into Violations of Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights in Kenya, established that there is widespread medical negligence and malpractice in health institutions. Expectant mothers are forced to contend with long waiting periods and delays in getting attended to in health facilities rude and arrogant nurses just to mention a few. http://www.kenyaforum.net/2014/01/19/kenyas-maternal-healthcare-can-it-be-delivered/