OUR MISMANAGED MATERNITY JEWEL

For many people, locally and internationally, the mention of Pumwani Maternity Hospital evokes a host of negative images. This is because, for as long as I have lived, Pumwani Maternity Hospital has endured wave after wave of negative press without a break.

This infamous hospital has an extremely rich history that is so rarely spoken of. Pumwani Maternity Hospital was first thought of in 1926. In 1917, the East African Women’s League (EAWL) was formed by a group of British women living in Kenya in the colonial period.  They were mostly wives of colonial administrators who were appointed to run the colony. The formation of EAWL was partly a protest against the ineligibility of women to be part of the Legislative Council but also as a platform for improving the conditions of women in their new home country.

The league was involved in various activities that aimed at improving social welfare of women, all women irrespective of race. It was involved invarious activities, from pushing for women-friendly legislation to prison visits, hospital visits (it rallied for Mathare to be renamed Mental Hospital instead of Lunatic Assylum) and commemoration of the World Poppy Day. It is from the social welfare angle that the Municipal Council of Nairobi was drawn into developing a refuge for children who may be orphaned or neglected. The EAWL was firmly represented by Lady Olga, wife of Sir Oscar, a woman who had run for political office as an independent candidate and is famed for being one tough cookie, giving even the then Governor of the Kenya Colony, Sir Edward Griggs, a run for his money. Political connotations seem to suggest that Lady Griggs, wife to the Governor, loved the idea and proceeded to expand the project to include a training facility for nurses and a hospital. The costs were out of reach for even the Municipal Council and the council members shot down the idea.

The Governor’s wife had her mind made up. She formed the Lady Grigg Child Welfare and Maternity League in 1926, and with the support of the EAWL, mobilised funds. Her opinion carried the day and in 1928, The Lady Grigg Maternity Hospital was born. Its humble beginnings included a 27 bed capacity and it ran on donations by the Lady Grigg Foundation.

The location of the hospital was by no means an accident. It was sited in the African neighbourhood so as to be accessible to the Kenyan mothers who lived in the outlying estates that forms the current Eastlands region of Nairobi. In 1944, the management of the hospital was formally handed over to the Municipal Council of Nairobi which did a great job of expanding it to 75 beds, catering for more women delivering. The Council was tasked with ensuring that the facility remained affordable to the lower class African mother. The initial building still stands to date, housing the Pumwani School of Midwifery. Currently, it boasts over 350 beds in the maternity wing and a new-born unit with a 144 cot capacity.

Contributions from various supporters has made the hospital fairly self sufficient. It has its own borehole, courtesy of UNICEF and runs a huge Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) programme in conjunction with University of Nairobi.

I had the privilege of working in this indomitable facility from 2008 to 2010 and it was the most enriching experience I have had in my entire career. Despite its humble resources, the facility delivers 25,000 to 30,000 babies every year. Many big names in the history of Kenya today were born in Pumwani. My mother tells me that in the sixties, the hospital would send you a midwife to deliver you in the comfort of your home and she delivered her second and third babies through this privilege.

Working in Pumwani fills one with a deep sense of satisfaction. Surrounded by the wonder of life coming into this world on a daily basis, the cries of pain turned to joy from first time mothers who cannot believe they are capable of bringing forth such beautiful life and being able to avert death where possible. The downside is quite devastating. When the team at work loses a baby or a mother, it is gut-wrenching to all and we all grieved with the mother and her family.

Many years of negative stories have killed the morale of the workforce in Pumwani Maternity many times over but they rise and soldier on. Stories of stolen babies, harmed newborns and mothers who have lost their lives have been poorly investigated and when the truth does come out, no one bothers to exonerate the hospital. This has left deep scars to those working at the hospital and created an environment of hostility between them and the community they serve. Patients’ relatives have turned hostile and attacked the very doctors and midwives that work diligently to deliver despite the many constraints thrown their way and many at times, the staff have reacted as they shouldn’t.

My humble prayer is that as Kenyans, we would look at this history with pride. We would stand up to defend a national heritage bequeathed us by women who lived in a time when they could have chosen to selfishly embrace their comfort but went the extra mile to leave something special to us and the future women of this country. It is my hope that the County of Nairobi that is now the proud owner of this national treasure, will rise up and restore it to its former glory and beyond. Investing in an intensive care unit, a renal dialysis unit and a proper neonatal intensive care unit in Pumwani, together with the attendant specialist doctors, nurses, laboratory technicians and all other specialist health workers will give the hospital the honor it deserves.

It would definitely make the women who struggled to set it up real proud of their struggles. For truly, Pumwani Maternity Hospital has been a diamond in the rough for far too long!!