Act decisively to end preventable maternal deaths

Maternal deaths due to hospital negligence remain a glaring issue in many parts of the world, with many stories of heartbreak and systemic failure sprouting on a regular basis.

Many women around the globe, particularly in areas with limited resources, experience neglect. During the Covid-19 pandemic, many expectant mothers opted for home births, fearing neglect or the risk of infection in hospitals.

According to World Health Organisation (WHO), about 287,000 women died during and following pregnancy and childbirth in 2020. Almost 95 per cent of all maternal deaths, the organisation added, occurred in low and lower middle-income countries in 2020 and most could have been prevented.

The Covid-19 pandemic strained healthcare systems worldwide. Resources were diverted, leaving maternal care underfunded and understaffed. In many cases, healthcare workers went on strike over delayed salaries, leading to more deaths that could have been prevented.

However, even years after the pandemic, maternal deaths are still on the rise. According to WHO, nearly 75 per cent of all maternal deaths occur from excessive bleeding, infections after child birth, high blood pressure, complications from delivery and unsafe abortion.

In Kenya, the maternal health crisis mirrors these global struggles. While conducting research on maternal deaths during my studies at university, I visited a hospital in Machakos County. The morgue told its own story as babies accounted for the majority of deaths. This is just a grim reminder of a healthcare system failing its most vulnerable.

An alarming incident that remains in the minds of many Kenyans is one that occurred in Nairobi where an expectant mother gave birth on a tarmac road outside a famous maternity hospital, after being turned away. The incident was caught on video and circulated widely on social media, sparking outrage across the country.

Surgical tools

The mother’s pain and humiliation were unnecessary and entirely preventable. While some good Samaritans, helped her to deliver, this incident reflects the systemic failures ailing Kenya’s healthcare sector.

Recently, reports have highlighted cases where women are poorly stitched after Caesarean section. In some instances, surgical tools are left inside the body, causing complications or even death.

Shockingly, even in 2024, women still lose their lives or their babies due to poor infrastructure, such as inadequate roads, hospitals, and ill-trained health workers. In some cultures, women are not permitted to go to hospital for pre-natal and ante-natal care which endangers both the mother and baby.

The Ministry of Health must act speedily and decisively to eliminate preventable maternal deaths, considering that factors like financial constraints significantly contribute to the persistence of this issue.

It is imperative that, under the Social Health Authority, mothers are served with the respect and dignity they deserve, as they carry the vital responsibility of nurturing the next generation.

Additionally, we need a systemic overhaul including enhanced training for healthcare workers, resilient accountability measures, better infrastructure, maternal education and policies that prioritise the dignity and care of patients.