WHY THE NAIROBI WOMEN'S HOSPITAL NEEDS TO BE SHUT DOWN (PART 9)

For those who think I have anything against Mr. Sam Nthenya, just so you know, I don't know the guy and even if I knew him, he is not the kind of person that would ever be my friend. Why would someone not care about lives like he does ? Why am I attacking him ? Because he is the one who runs the hospital, he is supposed to be aware of if not everything, then most of the stuff that goes wrong in all his facilities, what is his rôle as the CEO then ? Running up and down begging for funds ? Funds to do what  if at all they would dare ask for money for people who go question them just for statistical purposes. If you think am joking, then read on ;

Hi, I would like to share my situation on condition of anonymity.

Mine isn't about treatment at the hospital, rather about research. We were doing some research  into how cases of sexual violence are handled right from the police station, to the hospital to the court. As part of our  work we interviewed women's rights NGOs, CBOs, police officers, prosecutors, government analysts and hospitals including Kenyatta which has a gender violence unit. All this with a view to identifying what is going well and how the gaps should be addressed.

We identified NWH as a crucial actor in this since it houses the (donor funded) Gender Violence Recovery Centre (GVRC) which was set up (in our understanding) to comprehensively respond to cases of gender violence from a medical point of view, being a crucial link in the medico-legal chain. When a member of our staff requested to interview with someone from GVRC or access any info, she was told she must first pay 1000 bob!!!

How much does talking cost ? How much dear readers ! These people are out to mint money by all means and ways !! It is such a pathetic situation because of the mentality the public has of the Nairobi Hospital being a prestigious hospital only for them to use it to the disadvantage of the massess !

To those who still attend clinics and are planning to give birth their despite the warnings, make sure you tag along your own doctor and paedetrician...don't rely on those trainee nurses who only stand back and watch you push your baby to her death. I still have other stories that am yet to release as soon as this weekend. Let them not brainwash you with the idea that I am out to spoil the name of their good institution or that I have been paid by another hospital to bring them down, NO, NO, NO, nobody is paying me to do this, it is just the humanity in me that is leading the way into all this, so, go there at your own peril.

So, this week, as of Sunday 8th, July 2012, we have learnt of two deaths, two mamas have passed on leaving their little ones behind ! I was crushed because they died right after the campaigns had started. I am not going to blame anyone for having not passed the information to them, all blame lies with the hospital !!! It is not fair for women and babies to be dying all over the place like flies.

Tuesday, 10th July 2012

Moms, imagine my pals family, the one who had a cs at Nairobi Women's Hospital, just made the decision to switch off the life support machine. She's brain dead. Now those with slight medical know how, help. How could giving birth lead to this? What went wrong? My Google degree is not helping. Am so sad

Wednesday, 11th July 2012

Hi suzy,my friend was taken 2 Nairobi women's hospital last nite, she was in normal labour gave birth but after a shortwhile she complained of stomach pain and was bleeding seriously,and on consulting the Docs,they said that was normal en will go away after sometime,the lady kept calling 4 the Docs but due to negligence she passsed on,so sad!

These are just the cases that come to our attention, what of those which we don't receive ? Do you have any clue how many babies die just in that one hospital, almost three per day, I have not included statistics of mothers and babies, just babies. What era are we in again ?

They finally decide to send me a letter inviting me for a meeting with them but giving me a lesson on « medicine » prior so that I may be aware of why women and babies die in huge numbers in their facility. Why should they send out one thing to the media and another thing to me ?

Dear Suzanne,

We appreciate your passion and desire to make a difference in maternal health in Kenya – a

common cause that we both share. We have noted the concerns you have raised on behalf

of women with the seriousness they deserve.

The Nairobi Women’s Hospital has been in existence for over a decade offering obstetric and

gynecological services as well as other field of medicine. The Board of directors,

management and staff continue to passionately deliver quality healthcare to our customers

in line with our mission.

As an institution our goal is to safe guard life and when one is lost it is a very BIG deal. It

saddens us greatly to say that sometimes the ability to safe guard life is beyond our control.

This could be due to any of the conditions listed below which is not exhaustive:

Mother:

•Rupture of the uterus during labour

•Complication from a reaction from anesthesia

•Post partum hemorrhage, that is excessive bleeding after delivery as a complication of

either a bleeding disorder or incomplete expulsion of products of conception

•Thromboembolis, that is, blood clot in the veins

•Amniotic Fluid embolism

•Complications of from an existing disease such as diabetes, hypertension

•Eclampsia, that is, a diagnosis only relating to period of pregnancy and just after pregnancy

characterized by high protein in urine, High Blood pressure and convulsions and commonly

kidney failure. It may be seen following pre-eclamsia which is characterized by the same

symptoms except for convulsions. Generally the causes are unknown.

•Pre-existing bleeding disorder

•Severe infection in pregnancy

•Malaria in pregnancy

• Viral infection complications during or post pregnancy such as HIV, Hepatitis,

Cytomegalovirus

• Other infections, for example, meningitis

• Pre-existing heart disease - known or occult

Baby:

•Rhesus incompatibility

•Intra-uterine infection, including HIV, syphilis

•Severe congenital malformation

•Placental insufficiency

•Placenta previa leading to excessive bleeding

•Uterine rupture leading to baby aspirating the amniotic fluid

•Consequence of Pre-eclamsia and eclamsia

•Cord around the neck

•Knot in the cord

•Extreme prematurity, that is, less than 28 weeks of gestation

•Birth trauma

•Complications of drug intake during pregnancy such as medicinal drug, smoking, alcohol

intake

Given the social media dynamics, it presents constraints in addressing these complaints due

to challenge of identifying the individuals. This is why we have been requesting the mothers

to contact us individually and specifically give us their full names to enable us retrieve and

review their records. Please assist us in getting these details from the mothers. As an

organization we appreciate feedback as it enables us to continuously improve.

And this is what they send out to the media ;

To our Esteemed Editors and Journalists,

RE: SOCIAL MEDIA DISCUSSIONS

The Nairobi Women’s Hospital appreciates the mutually beneficial relationship that we have enjoyed over the years and continue to enjoy.

Our attention has been drawn to the ongoing social media discussions on different online platforms and an advisory for people not to seek medical care within our hospitals. Given the social media dynamics, it presents constraints in narrowing down the nature of complains. We continue to seek audience with complainants to be able to adequately address the issues raised.

We wish to assure you that the hospital’s Board of directors, management and staff continue to passionately deliver quality healthcare to our customers in line with our mission.

We appreciate the concern, encouragement and assurance that you have extended to us and look forward to your continued support.

Please feel free to contact the undersigned on: Direct email: mwanjohi@nwch.co.ke for more information and suggestion on this issue.

Monica Wanjohi
General Manager- Marketing Communication & Customer Relations

This same lady is the one who was running all over the place trying to give good press to the hospital only after one mama had come in crying why they had to charge her Kshs. 1.4million yet her son was already dead. Do you know they called her for a meeting to bargain on the charges ??

Why would they ask me for the victims identity ? What is their database for ? I have had enough of their sarcasm and will not be meeting with them and neither will I bulge in this fight.

We have organised for a demonstration to be held on Saturday, August 4th 2012, the « Event » can be found on my facebook profile and in the meantime, there is a petition list that is being signed, click on the link to sign the same.

I have read comments from lots of people who have lost either baby or baby and the wife, the bad thing is that they don't want to come out and talk about it. I won't tire beseeching you to come out and tell your stories so that everybody might boycott this hospital in future. You have been unfortunate and lost your dear ones, we don't want a repeat of the same for those still alive. Write to us at sadhi80@gmail.com and women4kenya@gmail.com at least you have someone who is ready to listen and tell your stories on your behalf.

Aluta Continua.