The latest episode of Kenya’s nationwide blackout on August 25th left most parts of the country in total darkness. The blackout kicked in at around 9:30 pm and went on for 24 hours.
Reportedly, the power outage has left an Embu couple mourning the loss of their newborn baby who was depending on the life support machine.
The reports on the loss of the life-support baby claim that the baby’s chance of survival rested upon the oxygen support which was tragically cut short by the power disruption on Friday at the Embu Level V Hospital.
Allegedly, the backup generators failed to run for the whole night and a few infants unfortunately lost their lives.
Taking to social media, the baby’s father expressed his grief and immense pain his family endured due to this traumatic incident.
He revealed that his child was having a lactating problem and was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit for infants.
“The oxygen supply was halted since the Embu General Hospital couldn’t run backup generators the whole night. More than three infants in the nursery unfortunately lost their lives,” he lamented.
“I am sad right now as I head home with a heavy heart. I don’t know what I will tell my wife,” he painfully stated.
Human Rights activist Boniface Mwangi provided an update, stating that the current count of babies who lost their lives was nine.
“How many other lives have been lost because hospitals didn’t have a power backup or generators ran out of fuel? Failing to plan for a power blackout in a hospital is criminal negligence,” he wrote on his Facebook page.
He also revealed that the father of the infant with lactating problems was asked to pay Sh. 200 for a death permit
“I met other parents at the hospital and we are all paying Sh. 200 for a burial permit since their infants also passed away yesterday night and this morning,” the father continued.
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Embu County Governor Cecily Mbarire was prompted to issue a statement after the viral news caught her attention. She refuted all claims of several infants passing away, disclosing that she only knew of 1 death.
Furthermore, Hon. Mbarire stated that the death was not in any way linked to the power outage experienced. She attributed the death to premature birth at 21 weeks.
“There were 20 deliveries, among them 8 born through cesarean section. All the babies are in absolute good health,” Mbarire clarified.
The governor also advised the public against consuming misinformation from Mwangi that was not backed by facts. She extended her invitation to the activist to visit Embu’s Department of Health to verify the information.
“In Embu, we take health very seriously!!” the governor asserted.