Government urged to open abandoned maternity

By Robert Mutasi 

The government has been urged by Meru residents to reopen the closed maternity facility in order to facilitate women's deliveries.

For the past ten years, the maternity facility has not changed. 

In remarks to the media on Wednesday, August 14, 2024, villagers in Ugoti village claimed that since 2015, representatives of Meru County had not finished building the maternity facilities.

According to Ugoti village resident Nabiela Gacheri, they are having trouble giving birth because there is not a working maternity facility nearby. 

Gacheri claimed that in 2015, former Meru senator Mithika Linturi constructed the facility, with beds being facilitated by former governor Peter Munya.

She claimed that even with Linturi and Munya's help, the maternity was not completed since there was no electricity or other necessary equipment. 

"We were built this building in 2015 by Mithika Linturi and we were delivered beds by Peter Munya. Since that year, we have never received help again, we always worry a lot during childbirth, because this was built as a maternity ward, we see nothing, there is no electricity," she said.

Gacheri stated that the stalled maternity building has been invaded by bats that have occupied beds. 

Many women must travel great distances to receive services, as Gacheri explained, because the nearest maternity ward is located in Maua town, which is remote from Ugoti. 

She claimed that the majority of pregnant women deliver on the road due to long distances. 

"We as mothers usually go to the hospital from here to Maua, people give birth on the way," she claimed. 

A resident of Ugoti village named Agnes Kendi told the story of how some pregnant women who died during childbirth while traveling to the hospital were killed by the long distance between Ugoti and Maua. 

She stated that the Meru County government has not taken the matter seriously. 

"Some mothers go to the hospital and die on the way while giving birth to their children, we ask the government to help us as much as it can," said Kendi.

Peter Kaneke who resides in Ugoti village, said since 2015, no woman has benefitted from the maternity services.

"Until now, not a single mother has ever given birth in this hospital," said Kanake.

The maternity facility is located at Ugoti village in Igembe South Constituency.