Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga has directed the county's Department of Health to investigate the circumstances that led to the death of a 19-year-old KCSE candidate in the county during delivery.
In a statement on Tuesday, November 29, after visiting the student's home, Wanga said that the student, Velma Anita Ochieng, succumbed to postpartum complications at Homa Bay County Referral Hospital.
The county boss said that the KCSE candidate at Nyajanja Secondary School passed away on Monday, moments after giving birth to a baby boy through a caesarian procedure.
"Ms Ochieng, a KCSE candidate at Nyajanja Secondary School in Kochia, Rangwe, passed away yesterday shortly after a successful cesarean delivery of a baby boy. She had been admitted to the facility on Saturday evening after developing preterm pregnancy complications," Wanga stated.
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"I have instructed the County Department of Health and the Curative Services Committee of the referral hospital's board to separately conduct independent investigations as to the circumstances leading to the loss of Velma's life," she added.
Wanga shared photos of herself condoling with Velma's family at their home, and in one of the photos she was holding the newborn that Velma left behind.
She said that since she took office, her government has taken serious measures to ensure quality care is provided to all residents of Homa Bay at the Homa Bay County Teaching and Referral Hospital.
The governor added that her government was making efforts to ensure no mother ever loses their life during delivery.
