Senate probes KNH over death of boy with fork jembe lodged in skull
Senators have launched investigations to ascertain what led to the death of baby Travis Maina at the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), claiming there could have been negligence on the part of the health facility.
This even as the lawmakers raised concerns over the preparedness of health facilities with most funds still domiciled with the National government despite health being a devolved function.
And now, the Senate Health committee chaired by Jackson Mandago (Uasin Gishu) seeks to summon KNH officials, Thika Level 5 and Kiambu Level 5 Hospital officers as well as Cabinet Secretary for Health to shed more light in the matter that they believe is negligence on the part of the hospital.
Mandago, a former county chief charged his committee will next week begin to unpack what transpired in the three medical facilities.
Baby Travis died on October 11, after allegedly waiting for too long before receiving emergency treatment at KNH.
The two-year-old succumbed to his injuries during surgery at the national referral hospital as medics tried to remove forked hoe lodged in his skull.
According to the boy’s mother, Juddy Muthoni, the toddler died on the surgeon’s table after being rushed to the hospital from Thika Level V Hospital after coming in from Ndula Dispensary.
Speaking at a press briefing at the Parliament building yesterday, Mandago said the committee will invite the mother to appear before the committee to shed light on the order of events that led to the eventual death of the boy.
“We are seized of the matter and the committee will be undertaking investigations immediately with a view to getting justice for Baby Travis’ family and also address the challenges in our referral system to prevent further loss of lives,” Mandago said.
Mandago explained that the investigations would also help in identifying gaps and policy issues arising in the referral system in the country with a view to fixing them so that the citizens can benefit from adequate and efficient healthcare.
“This is just one case of the many that happen in hospitals because it caught the attention of the public but there could be very many others that go unreported. We want to find out what happened,” he said.
Narok Senator Ledama Ole Kina, a member of the committee, alleged negligence on the part of the medics and sent a warning to the hospitals for discrimination in access to healthcare.
According to Ole Kina, denying any patient medical care on grounds of not having the funds contravenes article 43 of the Constitution which gives every Kenyan the right to healthcare.
“We are sending a warning to health facilities that every person is free to access healthcare with or without money,” Ole Kina said.
The deceased mother had earlier told the media that her son died after having to wait for too long before receiving emergency treatment.
KNH under fire
She claimed her son died because she is poor.
“Denial to the access of healthcare with or without money is something this committee will not tolerate. Everyone has a right to access the highest standard of healthcare regardless of their financial status,” Ole Kina added.
Nominated Senator Hamida Kibwana said the investigation will reveal the steps taken to respond to the patient.
“We must put a stop to this so as to avoid such occurrences in the future. We want to know how the ordeal started up until the death of the baby,” she said.
“These level 5 hospitals are just on paper as most don’t even have drugs. Money is still retained at the national level instead of going to counties to enable them to provide services to the people."
The committee charged that apart from probing negligence, they will also be summoning the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) to check on the progress of the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and inquire on the status of drug deployment to hospitals.
