Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir has assured the family of an 81-year-old patient who allegedly died after oxygen was switched off at the Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital (CGTRH) allegedly for maintenance that a thorough probe would be conducted.
Governor Nassir condoled with the bereaved families who lost their loved ones in the ward that was affected by the oxygen disruption.
“There was an incident. It is purported that oxygen disruption at Coast General Hospital has caused the death of an elderly citizen,” said the Governor
The Governor today met with the family of the deceased and agreed for an autopsy to be conducted for the cause of death to be ascertained.
A private pathologist has been commissioned by the family, while both the hospital and Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) are expected to submit comprehensive reports.
“Whoever is responsible will definitely face the law. There are no two ways about it,” the Governor stated, urging the bereaved family to be patient and wait for the reports.
He reiterated that the County Government would take stern action against any staff who may have been involved through negligence or inaction.
Alfred Kimanzi said his father, Kimanzi Mwangi, was admitted a week ago at ward six, and his condition had improved.
He alleged that the hospital management was doing maintenance and deliberately switched off the oxygen.
According to the deceased’s family, the oxygen supply was abruptly shut off to facilitate maintenance, leading to their father’s death within 30 minutes.
The family is dismayed by the lack of a standby generator or an emergency plan to evacuate patients.
“We want justice for our dad because if it was not for that oxygen that was switched off by the management, our dad would not have died,” he said.
John Kimanzi blamed the management for the oxygen disruption and wants the hospital to take full responsibility for the untimely death of their father.
“I would say this should be treated as manslaughter since it was done deliberately. If at all there was renovation, the patient could have been transferred to either the Intensive Care Unit or the casualty,” said Sebastian Kimanzi, another son of the deceased.
By KNA NEWS
