Crisis as maternity wing at Gilgil sub-county closed down

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Gilgil, Kenya:  A major health crisis has gripped Gilgil sub-county hospital after the maternity wing was closed down in unclear circumstances.

As a result, women in labor, new mothers and those ailing have been dumped in one congested room within the facility, putting the lives of newborn babies in great danger.

 
And following the move, medical personnel in the busy facility have threatened to down their tools saying that the working conditions were not conducive.
 
They expressed their fear of a disease outbreak adding that the problem started when the previous maternity wing was closed three days ago.
 
Following the impasse, a crisis meeting was called for hospital management and senior officers from Nakuru County.
 
A worker who spoke on condition of anonymity confirmed the crisis saying that both the patients and the staff had been affected.
 
The worker said that the problem started last week when the management closed down the maternity wing without any warning.
 
"The shocking thing is that all the mothers who have given birth or are recovering have been dumped in one room which is been used as the labor ward," said the worker on Tuesday.
 
The staffer noted that due to the health crisis in the facility, many of the personnel were dreading entering the room which had over 30 patients.
 
The worker noted that the new room did not have even a bathroom or proper ventilation adding that it was still unclear as to the move to hurriedly close the maternity wing.
 
"The room is in bad and inhumane condition and we are asking that the previous maternity wing should be re-opened," said the worker.
 
Following the crisis, the county chief executive officer in charge of health Dr Samuel Mwaura moved in and directed that the previous maternity wing be opened up.
 
Mwaura said the maternity wing had been closed up for renovation but the decision had since been rescinded.
 
"I have directed that the previous maternity wing be opened up to address the current impasse as we seek ways of renovating it," he said.
 
The incident adversely affected operations in the facility as relatives and friends could not access their relatives due to nature of the room.
 
"We are being forced to enter the room in turns due to its size and the conditions are very poor," said a relative.