By Treezer Michelle Atieno
Imagine it is 3 a.m., and you are a new mother lying in the postnatal ward of
Lumumba Health Hospital in Kisumu. You are exhausted but elated after bringing
new life into the world, your newborn baby nestled beside you.
The tranquillity of the night is broken by the faint sounds of footsteps, the clinking
of metal against stone. Suddenly, a group of strangers burst into the ward. You feel
a wave of terror as you realise these intruders are armed, knives glinting in the dim
light. The fear in the room is palpable.
You clutch your baby close, heart pounding, hoping the shadows hide you. The
intruders don’t want your baby, but they want everything else: your phone, the little
money you have, anything of value. The most haunting part is their calm, this is
routine for them.
The ordeal lasts only a few minutes, but it feels like hours. The burglars disappear
as quickly as they came, slipping back into the darkness, leaving behind a room full
of frightened, shaken women. As you try to calm your crying child, the full weight of
what just happened hits you.
You are supposed to be in a place of healing, surrounded by professionals who are
meant to protect and care for you. Yet, in those few moments, you were utterly
helpless, vulnerable to the whims of strangers with bad intentions.
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On the early morning of August 8, 2024, Lumumba Health Hospital in Kisumu
County experienced a shocking burglary that has raised serious concerns about
security in healthcare facilities.
A group of burglars infiltrated the hospital by scaling the perimeter wall, targeting
the postnatal ward where vulnerable lactating mothers were recovering from
surgeries.
This incident has highlighted significant lapses in security at Lumumba Health
Hospital. Although the hospital had contracted a security firm to provide seven
guards during the night shift, only four were on duty when the burglary occurred.
Even more concerning, there were no guards stationed at the entrance of the
postnatal ward, and those meant to secure the area behind the facility were also
absent. This negligence has prompted a thorough investigation by the hospital
administration and the police.
John Oywa, Chief Officer for Communication, Public Affairs, and Special Programs
in Kisumu County, confirmed that the county’s department of Medical Services is
taking immediate steps to reinforce security at the hospital.
Measures include enhancing the perimeter defences by installing electric fences and
reorganising the deployment of security personnel. Oywa also promised disciplinary
action against any officers found to have been negligent in their duties.
The burglary at Lumumba Health Hospital underscores the urgent need for
improved security in healthcare facilities, particularly in areas like Kisumu where
such incidents are becoming increasingly frequent.
It also raises broader concerns about the safety of patients in hospitals across the
country, especially those in vulnerable conditions such as new mothers.
