A Kenyan woman from Taita Taveta has been left in pain and grief after she lost her five newborn babies at a Tanzanian Hospital.
37-year old Bahati Tabu had gone to the neighbouring country in desperate search for medical care due to the ongoing health workers strike in the county.
"I went into labour and rushed to Taveta sub-county hospital but the watchman told me there was no nurse or doctor to help me," she said.
The woman was then rushed to Kisanga Dispensary in Holili, Tanzania after she developed pregnancy complications but was later referred to Kwa Minja Hospital in Himo.
Ms Tabu was unable to raise fare and hospital fees forcing her to use a boda-boda while going to Himo Hospital which was about 10 kilometres away.
“Good Samaritans gave me fare and some little money for hospital charges. I don't have employment and I knew maternity charges are free in Kenya,” she said.
Ms Tabu disclosed that the hospital in Tanzania lacked incubators for her underweight babies.
Nurses in Taita Taveta defied orders to return to work after the end of the nationwide strike, and they are protesting over unpaid allowances and promotions.
The nurses' strike in the county entered its ninth day on Friday.
Meanwhile, the County Assembly has reportedly summoned Health officials and the Nurses Union leaders in the county to appear before the House in an effort to end the strike.
