Police and the Ministry of Health are investigating circumstances under which a 30-year-old pregnant woman died at Ruhengeri Hospital after suffering a stillbirth.

Olive Mushimiyimana died a week after she had been referred to the hospital amid concerns that she could not deliver normally.

Mushimiyimana’s death and that of her unborn baby should not be in vain.

While investigations continue, we should also use the tragedy to reflect on the maternal health challenges, especially in the rural areas.

It is alleged that Mushimiyimana had developed complications, which could have been detected much earlier, to save both her life and that of the unborn baby, if she had routinely followed up with the recommended antenatal visits to health centres.

Indeed normal antenatal process starts early when a woman conceives. It should be mandatory for pregnant women to always go for antenatal care early because complications can develop at any stage of pregnancy.

And this is where leaders need to intensify sensitisation campaigns in promoting maternal health.

Husbands should equally escort their wives when going for antenatal care because research has shown that some men shun escorting their expectant partners for antenatal visits.

Family members of the deceased accused the hospital medics of failure to give her enough attention and ignoring to check the clinical details of the mother, a situation that paints a gloomy picture of service delivery at Ruhengeri Hospital.

Medical practitioners should also exercise utmost professionalism when dealing with sensitive cases.