Only 42 women have delivered at the Gitiha dispensary in Githunguri since the facility was launched last year, an official has said.
In an exclusive interview, officer-in-charge of the facility, Beatrice Gachugu, said there still remains a number of women who deliver at home. She cautioned that delivering without the help of a professional may lead to contracting diseases.
“Mothers should deliver in hospitals to reduce incidents of death at birth,” the medical officer said.
“Also, delivering in hospitals will ensure their children get the best healthcare from birth.”
Gachugu revealed that the number of women delivering at the maternity wing is very low compared to the women seeking ante-natal care.
She said the facility is centrally located, reducing the distance for most expectant mothers. The sister said that nobody has a reason to deliver at home since maternity fees have been waived and the facilities and personnel are also available.
Daniel Ndegwa, a nurse at the dispensary, confirmed that the number of children they serve in the outpatient department indicates that most of the children are not born in a health facility.
He said that they serve more than ten children under the age of five years daily and yet this month only one woman has delivered at the facility.