Mothers boycott maternity fees, cite Jubilee promise

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Ms Janet Atieno tends to her twin babies at the nursery of the new state of the art Maternity and Baby unit at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga referal hospital. Nakuru’s Rift Valley Provincial General Hospital maternity wing has threatened not to pay the maternity fees claiming that when President Kenyatta was sworn in last weekend he promised to  abolish the fees.  NATION

By FRANCIS MUREITHI fmureithi@ke.nationmedia.comPublic
Posted  Sunday, April 14  2013 at  14:39

IN SUMMARY

• “During his maiden speech President Kenyatta said his government will abolish the maternity fee and since it is now legitimately in authority , I 'm not going to pay the fee,” said a woman who had just delivered a bouncing baby boy.

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Public hospitals in some parts of the country are having a had time with mothers who are a threatening not to pay maternity fees claiming it was abolished by the Jubilee government.

Mothers who gave birth  at the Nakuru’s Rift Valley Provincial General Hospital maternity wing have threatened not to pay the maternity fees claiming that when President Kenyatta was sworn in last weekend he promised to  abolish the fees.

The management has however directed that they would continue to charge maternity fees until a clear policy was issued on the matter.

Hospital Superintendent Dr John Murima said that it was wrong for the patients admitted at their maternity wards to misinterpret the directive and that there was no circular issued by the government abolishing the fees.

Speaking to the Nation , Dr Murima said that the hospital was still awaiting the official communication from the government on the matter.

“The patients  will still have to pay the normal maternity fees until we receive an official circular from the government abolishing the fees,” said the official.

A spot check by the Nation on Sunday at the hospital established that most of the mothers were upbeat that they will not be charged the maternity fee as promised by the Jubilee government.

“During his maiden speech President Kenyatta said his government will abolish the maternity fee and since it is now legitimately in authority , I 'm not going to pay the fee,” said a woman who had just delivered a bouncing baby boy.

Another woman said for a long time mothers who were admitted at the hospital were humiliated as they were detained at the hospital for lack of money to clear their maternity fees.

“The minimum charge for delivering in this government hospital is Sh5,000 but the charges can shoot to as much as Sh11,000 depending on the complications at birth,” said another woman .

In his maiden speech Mr Kenyatta said his government will abolish the maternity fees within 100 days in the office.

Most of the mothers at the hospital expressed confidence that the new government will fulfill its promises to the citizens.