Grieving Mother Accuses Nurse of Negligence After Newborn’s Death in Sulima

A grieving mother in Sulima Community, Sorogbema Chiefdom, has raised serious concerns over the tragic death of her newborn baby, accusing Nurse Safie of negligence.

The incident occurred last week at the Sulima Community Health Post (CHP), where Mamie Kamara, the bereaved mother, expressed deep dissatisfaction with what she described as the unprofessional conduct of the nurse on duty.

Speaking to this media, Mamie Kamara recounted that at around 5:30 AM, she began experiencing labor pains. A family member rushed her to the health center for a safe delivery, but upon arrival, no medical staff were present.

The Sulima CHP has three assigned medical personnel, but two had traveled to Pujehun for training, leaving only Nurse Safie on duty.

Mamie explained that her sister immediately went to call Nurse Safie at her house, but the nurse allegedly responded that she was preparing her child for school and could not attend to a woman in labor.

Despite waiting for over two hours, Nurse Safie still did not show up. Mamie struggled alone in the labor room for more than three hours, unable to use the delivery bed because it was too high.

“I had no choice but to give birth on the bare floor of the labor room,” she said.

After delivering a baby boy, Mamie’s sister went back again to inform Nurse Safie. This time, she came but allegedly scolded Mamie, calling her ungrateful.

Mamie stated that Nurse Safie then picked up the baby from the floor, wrapped him, and placed him beside her. It was at this point that she realized the baby was not breathing.

Without offering any further assistance, Nurse Safie allegedly left the health center and returned home. By the time Mamie’s family arrived, they confirmed that the baby had died.

Hawa Katta, Mamie Kamara’s sister, who was present at the health center, corroborated Mamie’s account.

Hawa explained that when she realized her sister was in labor, she rushed to Nurse Safie’s house to seek help. However, Nurse Safie told her she was busy preparing her child for school and could not leave to attend to the laboring mother.

When Hawa returned to the health center, Mamie had already given birth, but the baby was lying on the floor in critical condition.

At around 9:00 AM, she again went back to Nurse Safie and told her the baby was struggling to breathe. This time, Nurse Safie followed her to the health center, picked up the baby, and placed him beside his mother.

“When I entered the labor room, I realized the baby was not breathing,” Hawa told Radio Wanjei. “I immediately informed my sister, and when we called Nurse Safie back, she simply told us that the baby was already dead.”

Hawa further alleged that what hurt them most was that even after realizing the baby had died, Nurse Safie continued using her phone as if nothing had happened.

The incident has sparked outrage in Sulima and surrounding communities, with residents calling for a full investigation and administrative action against Nurse Safie.

The matter was immediately reported to local authorities, including Town Chief Siaka L. Massaquoi of Sulima, the Facility Management Committee Chairman, Mr. Bockarie Rogers and Other community stakeholders

When contacted for her side of the story, Nurse Safie admitted that at 5:00 AM, a woman had informed her about a labor case at the health center. She confirmed asking whether any other medical staff were available, and upon learning that she was the only one, she continued preparing her child for school.

Later that morning, she said she met the same woman again, who informed her that the mother had already delivered but the baby was in critical condition.

At that point, she said she rushed to the community health post and found both the mother and baby lying on the floor.

“When I asked why she hadn’t used the delivery bed, she said she couldn’t,” Nurse Safie stated.

She claimed she did everything she could to save the baby, but given the amount of time the newborn had spent on the floor, there was little she could do.

Addressing allegations that she was playing on her phone, Nurse Safie denied it, saying she was trying to contact her colleagues for medical instructions.

Residents of Sulima are demanding a thorough investigation into the incident and appropriate disciplinary action if Nurse Safie is found guilty of negligence.

Many believe her alleged actions reflect a serious failure of duty, and they are urging health authorities to prevent such tragedies in the future.