Samburu residents decry negligence in protest over maternal deaths at Suguta hospital

Transport was paralysed for the better part of Friday along the Maralal–Nyahururu road as irate residents of Suguta Marmar in Samburu County staged protests.

Protesters barricaded the busy road for more than three hours, lighting bonfires to express their displeasure and disappointment with the management of Suguta Marmar Level IV Hospital over what they termed alarming cases of maternal deaths due to alleged medical negligence.

They claim that the hospital has recorded two maternal deaths in the last two weeks.

They accused medics at the facility of negligence that has allegedly cut short the lives of their loved ones, the latest case being a maternal death recorded on Thursday.

“Jana nimeleta huyu mama mchanga, ako na mtoto mmoja, na tulipomleta hapa daktari ni mmoja, wamama wanaumwa watano, anashindwa atashughulikia mgani,” said Emily Nasieku, a family friend.

Area resident Purity Lepirkine added: “Tumepoteza hapa zaidi ya wamama wawili, na jana mwingine alifariki akiwa na mtoto wake kwa tumbo, hajafanyiwa operation na wangesave life ya mtu mmoja.”

Frustrated residents accuse the facility’s medics of negligence, saying they often experience pain and agony whenever they seek treatment at the hospital.

“Mwaka jana nilipata kujifungua lakini niliweza kupoteza mtoto wangu, kwa sababu daktari mwenye alikuwa hakunishughulikia na njia inayostahili, na uchungu kama kina mama kila wakati tunapoteza watoto,” a victim, Everline Njeri, said.

Another resident, Rachael Kamwora, added, “Ukigonjeka ama ukiwa hali mbaya, ambulance haiwezi kukubeba mpaka utoe pesa uweke mafuta na hauna uwezo, na kuna mama tulichangia yeye juzi na haku survive.”

The hospital’s board of management has confirmed awareness of the case, promising punitive measures against those found culpable.

“Tulipatwa na kifo hapo hospitali ya mama mjamzito ambaye alikuwa anajifungua, na kama mwenyekiti wa board hii nawaita madaktari na specialist wafanye upelelezi,” Suguta Level IV Hospital board chair James Lolkurum noted.

Samburu County Senator Steve Lelegwe, on his part, said, “County yetu iko na jukumu la kupea watu wetu afya, ya kuweka madawa ya kutosha na madaktari wa kutosha.”

With transport paralysed for the better part of Friday, security officers were forced to step in to contain the demonstrators. They lobbed teargas to disperse the protesters and allow transport to resume.