Nairobi News

Githunguri Member of Parliament Gathoni Wamuchomba, has joined forces with three fearless Nguvu Change Leaders—Harriet Afandi, Josephine Mwende, and Deborah Monari to combat Obstetric Violence in Kenya (OBV).

This significant alliance comes on the heels of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, observed on November 25th.

Hon. Wamuchomba, recently presented a proposal to the National Assembly for the creation of a national policy on OBV.

Wamuchomba’s own campaign, “Heshimu Uzazi” (Respect Motherhood), seeks to address the distressing accounts of women undergoing mistreatment and neglect in delivery rooms and maternity wards across the country.

Speaking on the matter, back on November 25, during the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, Hon. Wamuchomba noted that there is an urgent need for legislation.

“Across delivery rooms and maternity wards in Kenya, many women remain similarly unassisted and neglected as they struggle through childbirth. It is even worse if it involves women with disability. This is gender-based violence and needs to stop immediately!” she said.

The term ‘Obstetric Violence’ encompasses a troubling intersection between institutional violence and violence against women, posing a grave concern in Kenya.

Also read: Controversial death leads to closure of maternity clinic in Dagoretti North

Statistics from 2016 revealed that one in five women giving birth in local hospitals experienced humiliation, abuse, and bribery requests, according to data from the Ministry of Health, the National Nurses Association of Kenya, the Federation of Women Lawyers, and the International NGO Population Council.

Harriet Afandi, a Nguvu Change Leader from Vihiga County, shared a personal experience highlighting the toll of neglect on expecting mothers.

“My sister had to undergo an emergency C-Section surgery 11 days after her due date because her clinical nurses told her that it was not the ‘right time’ yet,” she revealed.

Afandi believes that the “Heshimu Uzazi” campaign will safeguard pregnant women from neglect and negligence.

Josephine Mwende, another advocate for the cause, shed light on the discrimination she faced as an expecting mother with cerebral palsy.

“I was rejected by one hospital after another because of my condition,” she shared. Mwende’s petition seeks to eliminate such discrimination, ensuring that no woman with cerebral palsy faces the pain, rejection, and humiliation she endured.

Deborah Monari, a dedicated nurse from Nairobi, emphasized the need for a Patient Rights Committee in all health institutions in Kenya.

She pointed to instances of medical malpractice and violation of patient rights within the healthcare system.

Monari’s petition seeks to rectify these issues and improve the healthcare system’s responsiveness.

“Many of us still remember the 2017 case of a woman who was forced to give birth on a hospital floor after being turned away from several facilities. That so many women in Kenya are suffering from OBV is symptomatic of the apathy in a failing healthcare system.”

As the nation observed the ’16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence,’ Wamuchomba expressed hope that the campaign would spark conversations and influence change.