Halima Hassan, 58, could still be alive were it not for a nurse’s birthday party at the Nanyuki Teaching and Referral Hospital.
Halima who hails from Majengo in Nanyuki was rushed to the facility on Monday. She was attended to at the emergency unit and sent to the lab for a quick test.
Her son Ramadhan Hassan Omar told the press that at the hospital’s laboratory, they were kept waiting for hours with no one attending to them.
The laboratory technicians and nurses on duty were busy celebrating the birthday of one of their own this whole time.
Omar said he attempted to seek help from a male nurse over the situation but he was rudely told off.
“On several occasions, I approached a male nurse for help who felt I was nagging and rudely told me off,” Omar told K24 Digital.
Halima’s condition got worse and she passed on before any test was conducted. She was among other patients waiting in line at the laboratory.
This has irked Kenyans who have condemned the hospital’s management for turning a blind eye on patients.
Laikipia County Health CEC Rose Maitai said a report has been made about the case and the county will take disciplinary measure on those involved.
Some of those involved have been interdicted.
“Unfortunately, it’s true. Disciplinary action has been taken including interdiction of some,” she said.
Governor Nderitu Muriitjhi termed the incident sad and said that a full investigation is ongoing.
He pledged to issue a statement on the case once investigations are conducted.
Halima’s story was not an isolated case. It brought to the fore negligence by a section of health workers at the hospital.
A while back, a 24-year-old woman was reported to have bled to death at Nanyuki Teaching and Referral Hospital.
The mother of two, her family said, did not get the necessary help because none of the hospital staff was around to carry out a blood transfusion.
This is despite seven people offering to donate blood. But the health officials were not on duty since it was a public holiday.
