When Margaret Njeri learned of her pregnancy, she had mixed reactions. That of happiness that she was going to be a mother, but also disappointment and frustration after the father of her child denied the pregnancy.

She learned of her new fate while living in Ruiru, prompting her to return home to Kiambogo, Molo. Here, she was cared for by her mother and younger brother.

Margaret Njeri accuses Molo level four hospital over medical negligence after they left a piece of cloth inside her after a C-section.

Photo credit: PURITY KINUTHIA/MTAA WANGU

Njeri says she overlooked the disappointment she got from someone she loved and decided to start a new journey of love towards her unborn child, a blessing gifted to her from heaven, as she puts it.

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Her pregnancy was smooth as per the doctors at Sachangwan health facility where she was going for her Ante natal clinic.

“I went to my last clinic on Monday 24 July this year, where I was told I was past my due date and asked to seek services at Molo sub county hospital on Saturday 29 July. At the facility, they performed a scan on me and told me that the baby was okay and I got admitted,” she explains.

Njeri says she was then put on medication between Saturday to Tuesday as the birth pathway was not yet ready.

“There were three of us prepared for surgery on Tuesday morning. However, the two proceeded, and I was left alone. It wasn't until 6:30 pm that I was taken to the labour room. The doctors checked to see if I could have normal delivery but they said the baby was not well positioned so we proceeded for surgery,” explains Njeri.

She delivered her child and went home to recuperate.

According to her, about two weeks later, she noticed some strange strands of cloth and a foul odour emanating from her genitals. She informed her mother.

Njeri sought treatment at the Molo sub-county hospital, where doctors retrieved a piece of cloth, which had been left behind by the doctor who attended to her during the C-Section.

Doctors at Molo sub county hospital left a piece of cloth inside a woman after performing C-section on her.

Photo credit: BRET SANYA/MTAA WANGU

“On arrival at the hospital, I was received by a nurse to whom I explained my condition. Shocked, she asked me to lie on the bed and later called other doctors. I could feel them pulling something from by body. Afterwards, one of the nurses was asked to dispose the cloth in the pit latrine,” she says in a sad tone.

“I was surprised that the doctors had left the cloth in me. It was an arm-length white piece of clothing that had caused me intense stomach aches ,” she explains.

According to Njeri, the incident left her with a postpartum medical scare, affecting how she cared for her child and her mental health.

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This is not the only complaint recorded at the Molo health facility in the past two months. Yet another mother, Mary Mumbi, says she had to undergo a second surgery after she continuously had stomach pains following a C-Section at the facility.

Asked to comment on the two issues, the Molo Level four Medical superintendent Dr. Susan Wanjiku, says she has no comment.

On the other hand, Deputy County Director for Medical Services, Nakuru County Dr. Daniel Wainaina, says they received concerns on Njeri’s case. He notes that an investigative medical team has been delegated to investigate the matter.

“The case cannot be termed medical negligence unless pronounced by an investigative team of doctors. We are yet to receive feedback on the matter,” he said.

Cases of alleged negligence have been on the rise in Nakuru County.

Read: Mother mourns death of 10-month old son, blames PGH for negligence

For instance, Ann Mutai claims she lost her 10-month-old baby on August 4, after doctors at the Nakuru Referral and Teaching Hospital delayed attending to her son, who had a blocked chest which led to difficulty in breathing.

Nakuru Teaching and Referral hospital Medical superintendent Dr James Waweru.

Photo credit: BRET SANYA/MTAA WANGU

Speaking to Mtaa Wangu, in response to the concerns of negligence raised by patients receiving treatment at the Nakuru Referral and Teaching Hospital, the Medical Superintendent Dr James Waweru says, “At times a case may be perceived as negligence from the public's point of view, where a patient thinks they were not served as they wanted. Medical negligence is when a medic overlooks the patient's case when they had a chance to give treatment.”

In January this year, a 23-year-old woman went to Naivasha sub county hospital to deliver her child but unfortunately developed medical complications and bled to death.

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Following this incident, the hospital board was dissolved and the medical superintendent transferred to another facility.

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Purity Kinuthia