Ekeomah Atuonwu
The death of a pregnant woman in Senegal after she was denied a caesarean section in a hospital has sparked outrage in the West African country, where the president has promised an investigation.
According to local press, Astou Sokhna died nine months pregnant on April 7 in a public hospital in the northern town of Louga, after repeatedly pleading with doctors to perform the operation.
According to press reports, the hospital refused her request because a caesarean section had not been planned in advance, and threatened to expel her if she insisted on the procedure.
Sokhna and her baby died after a reported 20-hour wait, sparking outrage on Senegalese social media.
The case has also received extensive media coverage, as it is the latest in a long line of scandals in the country’s ailing healthcare system.
Four newborn babies died in a fire in a hospital in the town of Linguere, near Louga, in April last year.
Senegalese President Macky Sall announced on Monday that an investigation had been launched. “No failure will be tolerated,” he said on Twitter.
The director of Louga hospital, Amadou Gueye Diouf, announced Monday evening that he had “initiated an administrative procedure to clarify the contours of this case.”
According to local press reports, Astou Sokhna’s husband has filed a legal complaint.
