EDITORIAL: Professional negligence is unacceptable

Rwanda has made huge strides in the health sector over the years. Child and maternal health care have been high on the agenda of the country’s health development initiatives. Indeed the country has registered remarkable decline in maternal and infant mortality rates, according to the country’s performance in the MDGs 4 and 5-related to reducing child mortality and maternal health. Statistics from the fifth demographic and health survey indicate that the country reduced maternal mortality to 210 deaths per 100,000 live births currently, down from 1,071 in 2000. This indeed shows that the health sector has come of age, but challenges still abound, and a lot has to be done to meet the country’s health goals. For example we still have cases of mothers dying while giving birth due to avoidable causes like negligence on the part of health care practioners. Last week, a young mother lost her life during delivery, allegedly due to negligence of the doctors. The unfortunate incident is a reminder to medics that professionalism in any job is a cardinal rule and that negligence is unacceptable in their line of duty. Any slight mistake could lead to loss of life like in the case of the young woman from Kayonza District. Good enough the Health Ministry took immediate measures including suspension of the involved doctors. This incident should be a reminder to the medical practitioners that complacency at work is costly not only to the sector but to the country. Doctors that taint the image of other hardworking medical workers and healthcare service providers should face tough penalties if found guilty to deter future occurrences.

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EDITORIAL: Professional negligence is unacceptable