Arc of justice needs to bend towards maternal healthcare

A stream of tweets from 27-year-old and new mother Mama Boo just went viral. The comments she generated under the hashtag #HospitalNegligenceKE were right on time. As we globally celebrate Maternal Health Day, we must do more to keep mums and babies safe as well as keep adolescents free from premature parenthood.

Mama Boo’s tweets detail with agony her experience of giving birth in a private Nairobi hospital in January. Demands for hefty financial deposits before emergency treatment, absent or abusive doctors, further delays and untreated after surgery tears was her experience. Despite seeking service in the capital city, her experience is mirrored by countless stories by women from economically marginalised communities. For most, major killers are health fraud, poverty, distance, harmful cultural practices and inadequate services and information in this order.