Doctors have pleaded with the police to provide free passage and escort for vehicles and ambulances transporting pregnant women due for delivery during the Saba Saba unrest witnessed today.
The doctors, under the Kenya Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society (KOGS), have said such measures would help prevent avoidable maternal and neonatal deaths.
KOGS President Dr Kireki Omanwa emphasised that maternal and child health must be prioritised, as any delay in accessing care can result in tragic outcomes. "We haven't had deliveries on the road yet, but during events like Saba Saba or maandamano, our greatest concern is the closure of major roads, which may hinder access to reproductive health services in hospitals," said Dr Omanwa, an obstetrician and gynaecologist. "Some women may be forced to deliver in unsafe conditions, putting their lives and those of their newborns at serious risk," warned the expert.
Delay in having pregnant women deliver, more so those in need of emergency care, is a threat to lives, he said.
