The Kenya Women Parliamentary Association (KEWOPA) has called for the urgent closure of Magena Dispensary in Kisii County following a tragic incident in which a mother and her newborn child died while receiving treatment at the facility.
During a visit to the dispensary on Sunday, KEWOPA members, led by Vihiga Woman Representative Beatrice Adagala, expressed outrage over the poor conditions and alleged gross negligence by the facility’s management.
They demanded that the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Kisii County Government, take immediate action, including holding those responsible accountable.
“This place shouldn’t even be called a hospital it’s worse than a cattle shed,” said Adagala.
“We are demanding that the Ministry of Health acts immediately to close this dispensary. It has completely failed in its mandate.”
A postmortem report on the deceased woman revealed that she died from complications related to prolonged labour an ordeal she endured while waiting for medical attention.
The legislators pointed to systemic neglect, noting that the dispensary lacked basic medical infrastructure and equipment.
According to the visiting lawmakers, the facility was found to be in a deplorable state.
Essential services such as electricity and running water were unavailable, and the bed used by the deceased mother was reportedly broken.
These conditions, they argued, posed serious health risks to other patients as well.
“The dispensary has nothing at all no water, no electricity, not even a proper bed. It’s unacceptable,” said Doris Aburi, a local MP and KEWOPA member.
“The postmortem showed she died due to prolonged labour. This is a tragedy that could have been avoided.”
The MPs further called for the arrest and prosecution of senior officials at the facility, accusing them of negligence and failure to act in a manner that could have prevented the deaths.
They decried the continued loss of women’s lives due to childbirth-related complications in Kenya, calling it a national shame in the modern age.
As of 2024, Kenya’s maternal mortality rate stands at approximately 594 deaths per 100,000 live births, the fourth highest in Africa.
The figure highlights how far the country remains from achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of reducing maternal mortality to fewer than 70 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030.
KEWOPA has vowed to continue pressing for reforms in maternal health care and the improvement of rural health facilities, ensuring that no more lives are lost due to preventable medical failures.
Juggling Books And The Mic: The Story Of Julius Kyalo, A Campus Student, Content Creator And A MC
