Minister orders probe into babies deaths

Written By:Judith Akolo,    Posted: Sun, Aug 07, 2011

The hospital's administrator, Dr Jonah Mwangi, has denied that the children died as a result of negligence Public Health Minister Beth Mugo has ordered speedy investigations into the deaths of four children at Thika Level 5 Hospital. The Minister who led a high profile government delegation to the hospital following reports of negligence by medical staff that could have resulted in the deaths of the children, said if conclusive investigations reveal any malpractice on the part of the medical staff at the hospital they will be sent packing. "Preliminary reports indicate that sadly, four children died between 4th and 5th August, 2011 and not six as earlier reported," said the Minister. In a move that seems to have jolted the government into action the Minister for Public Health directed the Director of Medical Services, the Medical Practitioners and Dentists Board to launch investigations. Parents or guardians of the deceased are invited to give their statements o the Board by Wednesday 10th August, 2011. The Minister said if reports of negligence are ascertained the staff will have to take responsibility. "The death of a person undergoing treatment is a serious matter and no information will be hidden from the public, we will make sure the truth is told about what exactly happened to the four children," said Mugo at the Thika Level 5 hospital. She however noted that the health sector is currently constrained due to lack of facilities, funds and the requisite number of medical staff. "Even with the constraints we are making sure that we are able to treat our patients in the best way possible," she said. Shock and panic gripped patients at the hospital on Friday night after the babies lost their lives from what relatives said was suffocation due to lack of oxygen.   They claimed the paedriatic ward had run short of oxygen leading to the tragedy. The hospital's administrator, Dr Jonah Mwangi, has denied that the children died as a result of negligence. He said only four and not six as reported had died after succumbing to different illnesses. Relatives claimed the deaths occurred as a result of negligence saying that seasoned nurses were leaving complicated cases to trainee nurses at the expense of patients.