INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE LOCK HORNS WITH CONGOLESE REFUGEE COMMUNITY IN KENYA.

By Patrick Donald Oucha.

In Kenya, East Africa./18/10/2013

World renowned health rescue organization referred to as INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE (IRC) is in the spot light over a painful death of Congolese expectant Mother cum asylum seeker 20/08/2013/ 4am at Kakuma Mission Hospital - Kenya.

The death of one Mrs. Elizabeth Kalenga (RIP) sparks off some hidden weaknesses, shame, and professional embarrassment that never had journalistic exposure for decades and many more cases of the sort have no access to international media to-date.

Tipped by communities on how some preventable health cases are being treated in Kakuma Refugee Camp (KRC) , please read herein a step-by- step investigative report on how Mrs. Elizabeth Kalenga died before her actual date/time.

FAMILY MEMBER SPEAKES OUT;

"Mrs. Elizabeth Kalenga started the day well, 19/08/2013. She reported to Clinic five at about Mid morning for routine check- up and treatment. Health personnel at Clinic five told her there was no medicine and could not be treated. She had her antenatal card tactfully withdrawn at clinic five. The tearful expectant mother reluctantly returned to her camp address." said a family member who preferred not to be named.

ELIZABETH IN CRITICAL CONDITION;

On the same day 19/08/2013 at about 19.00hrs, Elizabeth's condition worsened prompting family members to call for an ambulance which gave timely response. she was ferried to clinic six, where she reportedly received minor treatment and urgent referral to Kakuma Mission Hospital without her antenatal card (No medical history what so ever)

 NEGLIGENCE AND ABUSIVE CARE BY IRC CREWS

According to a witness cum care provider to the deceased; "The Ambulance left clinic six at about 9pm and instead of driving straight to Kakuma mission Hospital to rescue Elizabeth, they drove to different points including the main Refugee Hospital where Elizabeth was left to lie helpless in the ambulance for hours. I was personally in pool of blood"

Additionally, the said ambulance set off for Kakuma Mission Hospital at about 1.00am.

at this point, Elizabeth had suffered serious bleeding. She was admitted to Kakuma Mission Hospital at about 1.30am"

“It's vital to note that the distance between clinic six and Kakuma Mission Hospital is about seven Kilometers or precisely fifteen minutes drive. An IRC ambulance reportedly spent about 4hours to cover the same distance when assigned to rescue the life of Mrs. Elizabeth Kalenga on 19/08/2013”explained a Rwandese refugee.

DEATH IN COLD BLOOD

At about 4.00am 20/08/2013, both Elizabeth and the child were reportedly declared lifeless.” Some health personnel at the Hospital, on conditions of anonymity disclosed that Elizabeth died due to heavy bleeding" Said a source who declined to be named.

When called on cell phone for comment, the Hospital Administrator, Kakuma Mission Hospital (names withheld on request) said "Let the refugee doctors handle that case, we have little to say about that Death"

DENIAL OF FAMILY MEMBERS TO ACCESS AUDIT REPORT.

As required, when maternal death occurs, an AUDIT report is done with involvement of family members to ascertain the cause of death. In this case, two months down the road, family members have no clue about the said audit report.

MEETING WITH FIELD CORDINATOR IRC.

Under pressure to find out the cause of death, four family members had a meeting with the field coordinator IRC  kAKUMA, Dr James Dirangu, venued at IRC sub- office Kakuma, second week of 10/2013. The family members boldly told Dr. James Dirangu that “Our sister was tactfully killed by IRC” The meeting adjourned without constructive agreement.

NEW APPOINTMENT IN PLACE.

The restless IRC officials scheduled the 16/10/2013 for another meeting with family members to discuss and find a way forward, surprisingly the field coordinator suddenly cancelled the said appointment ten minutes ahead of time, stating that " kindly lets postponed because we decided to first investigate and asked staff who are away on leave to return and give their account" a text message from Dr. James Dirangu read in part and dated 16/10/2013.

IRC HEALTH FACILITIES AT A GLANCE;

In Kakuma Refugee camp, IRC has four Health clinics (clinic, 4, 2. 5, and 6) with an OPD at the main refugee Hospital. The organization has a memorandum of understanding with Kakuma mission Hospital where refugees and Kenyans are treated cost free. Kakuma camp a home to over 150,000 ( one hundred fifty thousand refugees) is served by three functioning ambulances with one in dangerous mechanical conditions(DMC). There are reportedly four doctors serving patients and two doctors involved in the management of IRC field activities in general.

However, access to ambulance services within Kakuma Refugee camp is yet an untold story.

To be continued.

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