By Alloys Musyoka
Accusations and counter accusations have been traded between county government critics and the governor Fatuma Achani Administration in claims of a 9 newborn babies daily death at Msambweni hospital.
The issue emanated nominated MCA Triza Bahati sentiments that turned political as government critics took to the social media to hold the Achani administration accountable.
According to Bahati about 9 babies die every day at the Ultra-modern new born unit in Msambweni referral hospital due to leaking pediatric rooms, claims that have been refuted by Msambweni hospital board while calling for the MCA investigations.
“The allegations have generated widespread public anxiety and caused institutional reputation damage and risks eroding public confidence in healthcare services offered by the facility,” reads part of the letter to the county assembly speaker.
The board asked the assembly to summon Trixa to provide sufficient evidence on the newborn babies’ death claims raised during a political event in Shimba hills a week ago.
The board said that it is the assembly that possesses powers of institutional scrutiny in the devolution set up and therefore placing the ball on their toes to do the right thing for the sake of Kwale people.
“We urge that the matter be prosecuted through the appreciate channels where facts recorded and evidence can be independently examined rather than through public speculative discourse,” said the board.
Kwale county opposition leader and gubernatorial candidate professor Hamadi Boga raised a more disturbing claim of a 19 years old woman who died at the same facility unfortunately after giving birth at her home over 15 kilometers away from Msambweni hospital.
Boga allegations that the Kwale health system is killing its patients was firmly dismissed by Kwale county government health department.
“Last Week the bold and beautiful Terresia Muoki said the thing that many had known regarding Health Services in Kwale. She was attacked by paid bloggers to ridicule her and the Board Chair of the Hospital my Uncle Mr. Mgunga wrote a long letter trying to intimidate the Muheshimiwa,” said Boga.
Boga claimed that the deceased mother had delivered at home and later developed convulsions and dangerously high blood pressure before being rushed to Tiwi Rural Health Centre (KD), stabilized, and then transferred to Msambweni Hospital.
He alleged that the deceased died after failure by the hospital management to place her in an ICU that was already full and instead placed in a general ward with one nurse taking care of 40 mothers.
The allegations by Boga were dismissed saying that the deceased 19 years’ mother delivered at her toilet in Tiwi on Friday last week before being taken to Tiwi rural and later to Msambweni teaching and referral hospital.
The deceased is said to have been admitted with eclampsia (pregnancy-related seizures) according to her medical history and that she had not attended any ANC clinic visits during her pregnancy period.
She began experiencing uncontrolled seizures despite ongoing medical management and could not be placed on ICU that were full in Coast General and Msambweni hospital after doctors recommended her admission.
“Despite all efforts by the medical team to manage her condition, the mother sadly passed away. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the family and stand with them during this difficult time,” said the health department in its statement.
The county government urged the public to refrain from spreading unverified information and encouraged expectant mothers to attend ANC clinics regularly and to deliver in health facilities in order to help prevent complications.
On the claims that Health executive committee member Francis Gwama uses a motorcycle, the department of health refuted saying that the minister uses an official government vehicle and, at times, allocates it to provide services to the public.
The county said that at Msambweni Hospital, there are some sections with leaking roofs but are currently not in use as alleged in order to allow renovation and repair works to continue smoothly.
“There is no problem with the water supply of the Renal Unit that operates day and night, and the water used is purified through a water osmosis system to ensure safe and effective patient care,” read the statement.
Governor Fatuma Achani administration recently approved a supplementary budget aimed at strengthening healthcare services through the recruitment of additional healthcare workers across the county.
The budget proposal is currently awaiting approval from the County Assembly before the recruitment process can officially commence.
According to the health ministry, once approved, the supplementary budget will pave the way for the employment of more healthcare professionals, including medical officers, clinical officers, nurses, and other essential health personnel.
“The department also welcomes constructive engagement from leaders, stakeholders and the public as we collectively work towards improving health services for all residents of Kwale County” they said,
They however discouraged the politicization of sensitive health matters and the spread of unverified allegations that may undermine public trust in health workers and institutions.
Meanwhile a Governance accountability and public policy advocate Sabina Saiti urge the Msambweni hospital board to be responding to hospital claims raised in public in transparent, accountable, and citizen-centered manner
“The board of Msambweni County Referral Hospital must understand that when a citizen, leave alone an elected or nominated MCA, raises concerns about healthcare services, especially on maternal and newborn care, the matter ceases being about institutional image and reputation and becomes a matter of public accountability, public trust, and the right to health” she said.
She said that instead of petitioning the assembly the board should have made a public invite to the County Assembly Health Committee, Ministry of Health officials at the national level, The Departmental Committee on Health in the National Assembly of Kenya, The Standing Committee on Health in the Senate of Kenya, Professional medical associations, CSOs, Independent auditors or regulators to assess: The general state of facilities and services in the hospital including maternal and infant mortality records, staffing levels, equipment functionality, infrastructure conditions, and the alleged leaking newborn unit.
“The board should have released verified data to the public on any issues of concern so as to restore public confidence in the facility. Transparency reduces panic. If the claims were false or exaggerated, facts and statistics would speak louder than threats or institutional pressure on the Speaker and the assembly at large ’she advised.
