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The Nairobian spoke to the head of gynecology department at The Kenyatta National Hospital, Dr Maranga Orora who explained that cases of procured abortions gone bad were a norm and “The common complications from these cases are excessive bleeding (anemia), infection (sepsis), uterine perforation and renal failure,” he said, adding that majority of failed abortions and evacuations have rendered ladies barren.
“Some patients tell us some of these people used crotchets to pierce their uterus. The piercings extend to the intestines and cause more life threatening cases,” said Dr Maranga, recalling the shocking case of a woman who was found with broomsticks in her intestines.
“A while ago, a lady with a swollen abdomen came to us. We suspected her large intestines had swollen or that she had an injury in her gut” said Dr Maranga. “We decided to operate her. With the first cut, we found three broomsticks in her, which we pulled out. But that was not the only problem, in her pierced intestines, there was pus.”
On further examination, they discovered that the piercing was coming from the uterus which was rotten. It had to be removed for her to survive.
“After the process, we asked her to be open with us. She told us that she had procured an abortion in some backstreet clinic where she was referred by her friend,” said Dr Maranga. At the hospital’s Acute Gynaecology Ward, Ward 1D, many of the cases they receive are those of abortions that went wrong.
The Nairobian spoke to the Ward’s Senior Nursing Officer, Mirikau Wycliffe who is trained in post abortal care. He said what puzzles him more is the equipment used in such procedures by backstreet ‘doctors.’
“Last month, we had a 15-year-old girl. She was discharged just last week. Her uterus had inverted, and even worse, she had been given traditional concoctions already, so we weren’t sure how to start,” said Mirikau adding that most cases referred to them require repairing damage which he says is caused by wrong equipment. He showed us the proper evacuation set, a plastic syringe that sucks out, rather than the suspected metals and sharp devices used by backstreet guys. Within the past two weeks, Mirikau says they lost a 17 and 15 year old whose kidneys has shut down completely.
