Following the scandalous discovery of bodies of dead babies at the Pumwani Maternity Hospital, the public has been throwing many unanswered questions at the authorities.
But just what is the situation at the hospital?
1. Beginning
The saga began on Monday after Governor Mike Sonko stormed the facility and discovered 12 bodies of infants allegedly hidden in carton boxes.
2. Complaints
Mothers at the facility are reported to have complained about a sinister action by the hospital staff. It is reported that the hospital staff switched off electricity to the new-born unit Sunday night and that this is what resulted in the deaths. However, this claim has not been confirmed.
At the time of Sonko's arrival, frustrated mothers were still waiting for the doctor on duty to arrive.
3. Suspensions
Sonko immediately moved to suspend officials of the hospital. Superintendents Catherine Mutinda and James Kamau, as well as hospital administrator Zaddock Angaya were relieved of their duties. Dr Kamau is said to have been expected on duty on Sunday.
All the suspended have been given 14 days to argue their innocence.
4. Replacements
Sonko has already filled in Dr Simon Mueke as the medical superintendent while instructing chief officer and the County Executive Member for Health to ensure the hospital continues to run smoothly.
5. Large base of patients
Pumwani serves the whole of Nairobi. With the services insentivised to assist the poor, mothers come from as far as Kibera across the city to access the services.
6. No morgue
First, being a maternity hospital, the facility has no mortuary. For all the deaths that occur at the hospital, the bodies are collected at specific days across the week. City Mortuary officers visit Pumwani on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays every week for body collection.
7. No body bags
The hospital has no body bags to store bodies of dead mothers and babies. Instead, the hospital improvises carton boxes, sheets of cloth and any other material available for the storage.
8. Sonko's action
When Governor Sonko stormed the facility and discovered dead bodies, he rushed to the media and took disciplinary action against hospital officials. However, it has been argued that the decision he took was populist because he did not factor in the tough conditions under which the hospital operates.
Health officials have lamented that the facility is under-equipped and that the problem therefore lies squarely at Sonko's desk.
9. More scandals
Pumwani hospital has been in the news for bad reasons lately. Just last month, Governor Sonko went to his social media pages to caution mothers of baby theft at the facility. Pumwani hospital has also been linked with poor services and mistreatment of mothers in labour.
#hivisasaoriginal