Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) in Giasaiga Sub-Location of Sameta Sub-County have been blamed for contributing to maternal complications due to unskilled handling of deliveries during home births.
Area Assistant Chief, James Mogo warned community members against encouraging home births among expectant mothers, saying it endangered both the lives of the mother and the baby when birth complications are poorly handled by unskilled TBAs in the rural areas.
Addressing a public baraza on Wednesday at Kenyoro Health Centre, Mogo encouraged expectant mothers to give birth in health facilities since in case of obstetric emergencies, it will be convenient for such cases to be referred to Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital for urgent attention.
Mogo said many innocent mothers across the country had either developed maternal complications during child birth or lost their lives or their babies lives due to mishandling of the deliveries by unskilled TBAs.
The assistant chief said it was government policy for expectant mothers to deliver at health facilities under the supervision of skilled health workers to avert cases of maternal and child mortality arising from mishandling of the deliveries, especially when one delivers at home under the care of TBAs who lack knowledge on how to handle maternal complications during child birth.
"I am reminding all members of the public and expectant mothers that delivering at home under the care of unskilled TBAs is not only dangerous to the mother and the expected new-born baby, but also to the community as it becomes a burden to care for the children due to deaths which could have been avoided by having professional health workers handle the delivery in question," said Mogo.