Doctor dismissed following death of 11-year-old boy at Igegania hospital
The boy’s family alleges that negligence played a role in his death. According to them, he was taken to the facility on Tuesday, May 27, with symptoms of suspected pneumonia.
The Kiambu County Government has launched an investigation into the death of an 11-year-old boy at Igegania Level Four Hospital in Gatundu North.
The boy’s family alleges that negligence played a role in his death. According to them, he was taken to the facility on Tuesday, May 27, with symptoms of suspected pneumonia.
They claim that the medical staff at Igegania responded sluggishly and that their request to have the child referred to Thika Hospital was turned down by the hospital’s management.
It is further alleged that the administration declined to release an ambulance to transfer the child to another hospital where he could have received more specialized care.
Speaking during a visit to the facility, Kiambu County Executive Committee Member for Health, Dr. Elias Maina, confirmed that disciplinary action had already been taken.
He said the county had dismissed doctors who were found to have been absent on that day, and a headcount was underway to identify other staff members not fulfilling their duties.
The CECM stated that the county had channeled billions into the health sector, which receives Sh8 billion annually from the county budget, in a bid to enhance service delivery.
He added that the administration would not condone instances where healthcare workers abscond duties without justifiable reasons, as such actions undermine the quality of care offered to residents.
Dr. Maina dismissed allegations that the county had delayed salaries for healthcare workers, stating that all dues had been cleared and no worker was owed any money.
He warned that those taking part in the strike, which began on Tuesday, would face serious consequences in accordance with labor regulations.
He emphasized that the county would not allow personal interests to take precedence over the well-being of its people.
Dr. Maina further noted that the county was constructing more than 30 new hospitals, had already upgraded 28 facilities, and replaced outdated medical equipment with modern machines to enhance healthcare services.
