Engela parents to sue over baby's death
KENYA KAMBOWE
The parents of a baby girl who died shortly after her mother gave birth to her while standing in the Engela Hospital’s maternity ward in the early hours of last Saturday are planning on suing the government.
Sharing her ordeal with Namibian Sun, 38-year-old Peelina Nghikumwa said they were just waiting for the final report from the pathologist regarding the cause of the baby’s death, although she was in possession of a post-mortem report which said her baby was born alive and died from head injuries.
Nghikumwa blames the nurses on duty that night for the death of her baby, saying that they had ignored her calls for help minutes before the tragedy.
She left her home village, Onanghwe yaNghikumwa in the Ohangwena Region, on 19 September and stayed at the shelter behind the Engela State Hospital until Friday, when she was admitted to the hospital’s maternity ward to deliver her baby.
Nghikumwa said around 01:00 she went into labour while sitting on her bed in the maternity ward. She called for help from the nurses but they allegedly did not respond.
She told Namibian Sun that she was told to make her way to the nurses’ station. She said she tried to do that but felt very weak.
“I was calling them but they did not come. One nurse told me to come to them, which is why I got of the bed trying to make my way to them. I was not walking straight as I was in pain and my legs were wobbly,” Nghikumwa said.
She said it was only when the head of her child hit the floor that the nurses came and assisted her.
“I told them I hope my baby is fine,” Nghikumwa said.
She said the nurses then took her baby away and returned a bit later with the news that they had tried to keep the baby alive but did not succeed.
Nghikumwa said the baby’s father planned to sue for damages.
“We are just waiting for the final report which they said they will give us soon and we will take it from there. The father of my child wants to be compensated for our loss,” Nghikumwa said.
Nghikumwa said a person’s life is priceless and that nothing would bring back her daughter.
According to the health ministry spokesperson, Manga Libita, the incident is being investigated and a statement will be issued in due course.
“The ministry is aware of a neonatal death that occurred at Engela State Hospital in the Ohangwena Region. Not much can be said at this moment as investigations into the incidents leading to the death of the newborn baby are under way. As soon as investigations are completed the ministry will issue a statement,” Libita said.
Ombudsman John Walters, when contacted about the issue, said if the parents feel there was negligence on the part of the nurses, his office can assist them.
Walters stressed that he would have to hear both sides of the story for justice to prevail.
Attempts to get comment from the Health Professionals Council of Namibia proved futile at the time of going to print.
The parents of a baby girl who died shortly after her mother gave birth to her while standing in the Engela Hospital’s maternity ward in the early hours of last Saturday are planning on suing the government.
Sharing her ordeal with Namibian Sun, 38-year-old Peelina Nghikumwa said they were just waiting for the final report from the pathologist regarding the cause of the baby’s death, although she was in possession of a post-mortem report which said her baby was born alive and died from head injuries.
Nghikumwa blames the nurses on duty that night for the death of her baby, saying that they had ignored her calls for help minutes before the tragedy.
She left her home village, Onanghwe yaNghikumwa in the Ohangwena Region, on 19 September and stayed at the shelter behind the Engela State Hospital until Friday, when she was admitted to the hospital’s maternity ward to deliver her baby.
Nghikumwa said around 01:00 she went into labour while sitting on her bed in the maternity ward. She called for help from the nurses but they allegedly did not respond.
She told Namibian Sun that she was told to make her way to the nurses’ station. She said she tried to do that but felt very weak.
“I was calling them but they did not come. One nurse told me to come to them, which is why I got of the bed trying to make my way to them. I was not walking straight as I was in pain and my legs were wobbly,” Nghikumwa said.
She said it was only when the head of her child hit the floor that the nurses came and assisted her.
“I told them I hope my baby is fine,” Nghikumwa said.
She said the nurses then took her baby away and returned a bit later with the news that they had tried to keep the baby alive but did not succeed.
Nghikumwa said the baby’s father planned to sue for damages.
“We are just waiting for the final report which they said they will give us soon and we will take it from there. The father of my child wants to be compensated for our loss,” Nghikumwa said.
Nghikumwa said a person’s life is priceless and that nothing would bring back her daughter.
According to the health ministry spokesperson, Manga Libita, the incident is being investigated and a statement will be issued in due course.
“The ministry is aware of a neonatal death that occurred at Engela State Hospital in the Ohangwena Region. Not much can be said at this moment as investigations into the incidents leading to the death of the newborn baby are under way. As soon as investigations are completed the ministry will issue a statement,” Libita said.
Ombudsman John Walters, when contacted about the issue, said if the parents feel there was negligence on the part of the nurses, his office can assist them.
Walters stressed that he would have to hear both sides of the story for justice to prevail.
Attempts to get comment from the Health Professionals Council of Namibia proved futile at the time of going to print.
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