Embu man seeks justice over wife's, child’s death at local hospital

The family alleged that Wawira and her unborn baby died following negligence on the part of the hospital and threatened to go to court to seek justice.

Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group

What you need to know:

  • The 46-year-old explained that on that fateful day, his wife complained of labour pains and he rushed her to hospital.
  • Later, his wife was transferred to another branch of the hospital at Ena area within the county without his knowledge when her condition worsened.
  • Sadly, the primary school teacher and her unborn baby did not come out of the hospital alive.

Last Friday, Zipporah Wawira, 39, walked into a hospital in Embu to deliver her baby after she developed labour pains.

Sadly, the primary school teacher and her unborn baby did not come out of the hospital alive. Both died at the operation table as medics tried to save their lives.

Now, Wawira's family is alleging foul play and is demanding justice.

The family alleged that Wawira and her unborn baby died following negligence on the part of the hospital and threatened to go to court to seek justice.

But, in defence, the hospital dismissed the allegations, arguing that the patient and the child died after she developed complications during delivery.

"Due to severe contractions during delivery, the patient's uterus raptured and she bled profusely. We rushed her to the theatre and, as we operated on her, she and her baby died," Dr Nderitu Wamai explained.

Dr Wamai denied that the deaths were as a result of negligence, adding that such complications normally occur during delivery.

"I want to state categorically that we monitored the patient so well and at no point were we careless," added Dr Wamai, who was among a team of doctors who attended to the patient.

But the family members insisted that it was negligence and vowed to fight until justice is done.

"My wife was in a stable condition when I took her to the hospital to deliver and I was shocked to learn that she and her baby didn't survive," said the husband and father, Mr Timothy Njeru.

The 46-year-old explained that on that fateful day, his wife complained of labour pains and he rushed her to hospital.

Later, his wife was transferred to another branch of the hospital at Ena area within the county without his knowledge when her condition worsened.

"There was foul play because they didn't inform me when they made a decision to transfer my wife. They called me only to tell me that my wife and the child were no more," he said.

Mr Njeru asked how his wife, who had no problem at all, could be booked to the hospital, known to be of high standards, and fail to wake up together with her baby.

"It is likely she developed complications when they failed to attend to her urgently while at the maternity ward as she waited to be taken to the delivery room," said Mr Njeru.

However, Dr Wamai admitted that the patient was transferred because her case was an emergency one and they wanted to save her life and that of the baby.

"Delivery was proceeding well but, suddenly, some complications occurred and we had to transfer her to Ena branch for an emergency operation. At one point, she collapsed at the operation table. We were unable to save her and the baby," said Dr Wamai.

Another family member, Purity Ruguru, said they learnt of the deaths with great shock.

"Wawira's condition was not serious and when news reached us that she died in the hands of the medics, we could not believe it. We are consulting our lawyers so that we can sue the hospital for negligence," Ms Ruguru said.

The family has also reported the matter to the police for investigations.

"We have informed the police and recorded our statements," said Ms Ruguru.