The various cases of medical neglect reported against various health facilities are regrettable and avoidable, clinicians have said.
The Kenya Union of Clinical Officers in their submission to the Senate Health committee has acknowledged the need to put measures in place to prevent any other incidences in future.
“We concur that these unfortunate incidences are regrettable and avoidable,” chairman Peterson Wachira told the committee.
“The best apology we can offer the relatives of Travis, Maureen and Kenyans at large is to take bold and deliberate measures to eradicate this incidence in the future and truly guarantee Kenyans of their health,” he added.
According to their submissions, in the case of deceased Maureen Anyango; the patient's referral from Kayole 2 Subcounty Hospital was timely and appropriate.
However, the monitoring of the patient who was having severe pre-eclampsia at the Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital was wanting in reference to pre-eclampsia management protocols.
“The lack of intensive care facilities at Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital also compounded the issue and further extended the delay in proper care,” Wachira said.
They further said in the case of baby Travis, should there have been a neurosurgeon at the Thika Level 5 Hospital and with the right equipment, the patient would have received the needed service at the facility without the need to travel to KNH.
In their submission, they said despite Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital being a Level 5 county health facility serving a population drawn from Eastlands, Nairobi, Machakos, and Kiambu counties, it is not adequately equipped to handle services requiring an ICU and a Trauma Centre.
“Right to access emergency medical treatment is not guaranteed in our public hospitals. That right is subject to a financial deposit that is out of reach for the majority of Kenyans,” Wachira said.
The union had appeared before the committee to make submissions of the alleged cases of medical negligence.
The cases relate to the death of Maureen Onyango, who died after delivering twins and baby Travis who had a fork jembe stuck in his skull.
