The 28-year-old woman who gave birth to quintuples in Kenya has died.
She died at the Moi Referral Hospital in Eldoret where two of her children had also died in the last one week.
Everline Namukhula was an optimistic mother, joyous and looking forward to raising her fragile five babies when she gave birth, preterm, 26 days ago, at Kakamega County Referral Hospital.
No one would imagine that the 28-year-old mother of four other children would leave her newborns shortly after.
CEO of the hospital Dr Wilson Aruasa confirmed that she died at about midday as she was being taken to the ICU following complaints about excessive chest pains.
“It’s unfortunate that we have lost her after she complained of chest pains and was being treated”, said Dr Aruasa.
He said initial tests had been done and indicated that she had an enlarged heart with fluids around it and her lungs had also enlarged with fluids.
Dr Arusa said that among the children two boys who were weak on admission had died while the three girls who survived are doing well.
Dr Aruasa said Namukuhula had been put on treatment to control the possibility of a blood clot in her veins because she had delivered through cesarean section.
The CEO said it was still possible that she developed a blood clot but postmortem examination will reveal the actual cause of death.
She had been admitted since been transferred to the Moi Referral Hospital (MTRH) along with the children for specialized care on Mach 12th
Namukhula who hails from Sisokhe village in Navakholo Sub County gave birth to three girls and two boys through Caesarean Section and was admitted at the Mother and Baby special unit at MTRH.
Doctors had said the children needed to undergo what is known as Zipap in medical terms which is improvement of circulation of oxygen in their bodies.
There has been controversy after a section of elders from her community indicated that two of her children had to be killed as part of the traditions and customs from the community.
Dr Aruasa said Namukhula had been staying at the hospital with her mother since she was admitted.
“She has been doing very well and taking care of the children at the nursery very well. She suddenly complained of the severe chest pains and died as we were preparing a bed for her at the ICU’, said Dr Aruasa.
“Initial tests confirmed that her heart was enlarged and some fluids had formed around it. We can’t determine what happened. A post-mortem examination will confirm that. For now, we can’t say much. Let’s allow the family to grieve” he added.
Agencies
