The High Court on Thursday ordered Bungoma Referral Hospital to pay one Josephine Majani the sum of Ksh2.5 Million after she sued for mistreatment.
Judge Abida Ali Aroni ruled that the county government was liable for damages Ms Majani suffered in the hands of hospital staff when she delivered a baby at the facility.
The judge found that nurses at the hospital had violated the rights and dignity of the patient, who was forced to deliver her baby on the floor.
Ms Majani was represented by the Centre for Reproductive Rights in the suit where they illustrated how nurses at the facility physically and verbally abused the woman.
[caption caption="Sign post at the Bungoma Referral Hospital"]
[/caption]
The incident that took place in August 2013 was caught on camera by another patient and the video footage got wide media coverage highlighting the abuse.
According to details of the case, Ms Majani was admitted to the hospital for an induced labour and was forced to purchase the medicine she needed without assistance.
The nurses refused to monitor or check her into the labour ward. They also told her to find her way to the delivery room if at all she wanted to be attended.
When the labour pains grew intense, Ms Majani moved to the delivery room where she found all the beds occupied.
It was when she was on her way back to the labour ward that she collapsed on the floor and delivered her baby.
Reports further allege that two nurses found the unconscious woman on the floor, slapped her to wake her up and insulted her for "dirtying the floor".
They further instructed her to walk to the delivery room, unaided, for a medical exam and was discharged with her baby on the next day.
An elated Ms Majani welcomed the court ruling stating that it was a win for all women seeking quality healthcare at government hospitals.
[caption caption="Entrance to the Bungoma Referral Hospital"]
[/caption]
