ONGWEDIVA – A 35-year-old man said he assisted his wife to deliver their baby at home, minutes after the nurses at the Omuthiya district hospital sent his heavily pregnant wife back home.
According to Johannes Pombili, the shocking incident took place three weeks ago when he rushed his wife Helvi Festus to the hospital around 23h00, as she was experiencing labour pains.
They were, however, sent back home by the nurses who bluntly dismiss Festus claims of labour contractions.
“Nurses told me that my wife is pretending. They said she was not experiencing serious uterine contractions,” he lamented.
The couple went back home which is not far from the hospital.
“While on our way back home, the uterine contractions got serious. However, we didn’t go back to the hospital since nurses have ordered her to go back home,” he said.
He said the wife gave birth to a baby girl 30 minutes after they had arrived home.
“I put on gloves and did all I could to assist her deliver safely. I was so worried about my baby and my wife’s wellbeing because I am not a medical worker, so I called the ambulance. They took another 30 minutes to arrive,” he stressed.
“This is total negligence. Both wife and my baby could have died. Nurses and doctors should stop sending back women in labour. It’s not safe,” he added.
Approached for comment, health director in the Oshikoto region, Josua Nghipangelwa called on the couple to lay their complaints with the office of the medical superintendent at the hospital so that the matter can be investigated as soon as possible.
Also approached for a comment, the executive director in the ministry of health Ben Nangombe said the incident is completely unacceptable.
“I am condemn health workers who are sending back patients without attending to them,” said Nangombe.
He urged nurses and doctors to take their work seriously.