A gloomy atmosphere dominated the Samaritan mobile chamber in Kapsabet town when the body of a 32-year-old woman, who was reported to have died as a result of doctors’ negligence at Chepterwai Hospital, was handed over by family and friends in mourning.
They say the woman and her baby died on the spot after what they term a delay by doctors in responding to the emergency.
The family says the two lives would have been saved by timely medical intervention. “We lost mother and baby because doctors did not take action at the time. It is both painful and unacceptable,” said one of the relatives
Human rights activists and members of the community have sympathized with the family and demanded accountability and reforms in the health sector.
They contended that county governments have over and over again failed to deliver quality healthcare even though a lot of money is allocated from the national government.
“Kenyans should not die the way they are doing due to negligence and poor management. The health sector should be brought back to the national government if counties cannot handle it,” an activist remarked.
This case has thrown the spotlight back on the healthcare services under devolution in Kenya, with the opponents raising issues like understaffing, dilapidated infrastructure, and weak accountability mechanisms in county-run facilities.
The family says the doctors have not yet responded to the issue, but the family promise to get their loved one justice and call for an inquiry into the alleged negligence at Chepterwai Hospital.