Civil society has called on the two levels of government to address the root causes of medical negligence so as to end preventable maternal deaths and injuries.
They further want the government to put in place mechanisms for holding medical practitioners and facilities accountable for maternal deaths and injuries due to medical negligence.
“Maternal injuries due to medical negligence are also at an all-time high. Specifically, pregnancy-related cases of medical negligence account for 27 per cent of all the 1,301 complaints brought to KMPDC since its inception,” they said in a joint statement.
They include the Center for Reproductive Rights, Association for the Physically Disabled of Kenya (APDK), Kenya Ethical and Legal Issues Network on HIV & AIDS, Network of Adolescents and Youth in Africa (NAYA), Reproductive Health Network Kenya (RHNK) and Trust for Indigenous Culture and Health (TICAH).
“We now call on the National and County Governments to ensure women especially those from low economic backgrounds are treated with utmost dignity and respect while seeking services,” they said.
This comes even as the Senate health committee led by Uasin Gishu governor Jackson Mandago is yet to conclude an inquest into various cases of medical negligence in the country.
In September 2022, a patient identified as Maureen Anyango who had just given birth to twins died on her way to Kiambu hospital after alleged negligence at Mama Lucy Hospital.
Civil society now says women especially those from low economic backgrounds are the most affected as they are physically and psychologically abused while seeking maternal health services.
They said that access to quality, timely and affordable maternal health care is anchored in the Constitution and guarantees the right to the highest attainable standard of health, including reproductive health for all.
“Health laws and policies in Kenya stipulate that medical practitioners ought to uphold the highest standards of health care while attending to patients.”
