Courtesy:Photo.
A 13-year-old primary school pupil went into labour in her school’s compound and gave birth unattended to, rupturing her birth organs in the process.
The incident at a Naivasha school left her teachers and fellow students shell shocked, as it emerged that the teen’s pregnancy had not been suspected.
The girl, a Class Eight pupil set to sit her Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examinations this year, is currently admitted at the Naivasha sub county hospital where she is recuperating. The baby died 12 hours later at the hospital.
When the baby was discovered by a nurse who was called in after the girl was discovered bleeding by her fellow pupils, she was wrapped in a woman’s undergarment.
Medical personnel at the Naivasha sub-county hospital held an emergency meeting on Thursday to evaluate the incident which they termed as surprising.
The medical superintendent in charge of the health facility Dr Joseph Mburu, speaking to theDaily Nation, highlighted the dangers the teen was exposed to following the incident.
“The risks involved were very high, including sustaining injuries in the birth canal and obstructed labour,” said the medic.
After the morning meeting, the medics checked on the condition of patient who was reported to be out of danger.
SHOCKING EXPERIENCE
“It is an unbelievable incident and a shocking experience,” added Dr Mburu who led the team.
He said the baby died as a result of breathing related complications, but added that the young mother was out of danger.
The school administration was in a state of shock. According to sources, even the matron was not aware that the girl was pregnant.
“She managed to conceal the pregnancy until the time she gave birth. As a matter of fact, she was informed by the teen’s fellow pupils after the incident,” said a source at the public learning institution.
The girl is said to have run usual errands at her home in the morning before rushing to the nearby public school, but later developed labour pains.
Fellow pupils alerted the school administration about the incident after they spotted her bleeding.
“The teachers in turn called a nurse from a nearby dispensary who rushed to the school compound and realized that the girl had actually given birth,” said a source.
The astonished nurse found the newly born baby still trapped in the mother’s undergarment and rushed her to the Naivasha sub county hospital.
Dr Mburu said the teen will be discharged from the hospital after recovering fully, but will undergo some counseling.
-nairobinews.nation.co.ke
