Own up to your mistakes, women leaders tell KNH
Women leaders have challenged the administration of Kenyatta National Hospital to own up to cases of insecurity facing women in the maternity ward at the facility.
Led by National Health Committee chair, Sabina Chege, the lawmakers while speaking at the facility on Saturday said they have taken up the matter and will do comprehensive investigation about it.
Several women came out on Friday to complain how security at the national referral hospital is a big concern, especially for mothers whose newborns were in the nursery.
Some of the mothers termed the short journey from the ground floor to the nursery on third floor as a risky affair especially at night, when the hospital’s male staffers make attempts to rape them.
“There was an incident last Thursday when a mother was scared by a male patient and the matter was reported to the management. The management should own up,” said Gladys Wanga, Homabay Woman Rep.
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While the hospital management has maintained that they are unaware of the incidents and that no case has been reported to them, nurses at the hospital have been reportedly advising the women to be always moving in groups when heading to breastfeed their newborns.
This, according to the women leaders, is enough proof that the hospital is aware of the insecurity that women with newborns are usually exposed to.
“They are aware of what is happening, otherwise they would not be telling the female patients to move in groups or to enter lifts with men,” said Naisula Lesuuda Samburu West.
They women leaders also want all the mothers to be moved close to the nursery.
Already, Health Cabinet Secretary Cleopa Mailu has ordered investigations into the claims and directed the hospital management and security agents to submit a report on the findings of the probe by Monday.