Africa report
Senegal: in Louga, tongues are loosened on gynecological and obstetrical violence
Audio 02:21
Astou Sokhna was admitted to the maternity ward on March 31, at the end of her pregnancy.
His family denounces medical negligence.
(Illustrative image) © Shutterstock/Liderina
By: Théa Olivier
3 mins
In Senegal, the emotion is still strong following the death of Astou Sokhna.
The 9-month pregnant woman died after 20 long hours of suffering at Louga Regional Hospital - 200 kilometers north of Senegal.
His family filed a complaint for "negligence" and "failure to assist a person in danger".
A revealing case of violence against women in health establishments.
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From our special correspondent in Louga,
Sitting in the middle of her sisters and neighbours, Maimouna Ba holds in her hands an album filled with photos of her daughter Astou Sokhna, who died last week.
It was she who accompanied the nine-month-old pregnant young woman to the hospital when she called in vain for the health personnel to relieve her severe stomach pains.
“
My anger is directed at the nursing staff at the hospital, because they have been negligent.
They have no consideration for human beings
,” says Maimouna.
“
Astou had even threatened them: “
you neglect me, when I call you you don't answer me.
When I recover, I will report you to the management
”.
The midwives answered him: “
it is because you are suffering that you are delirious
”.
Astou didn't know she was going to die there…
” The hospital staff rejected the thesis of negligence and instead pointed the finger at their precarious working conditions.
► To read also: Senegal: demonstration in Louga following the death of a pregnant woman in hospital
law of silence
But in Louga, tongues are loosened and other women are beginning to testify.
Badiane Diop, 26, just lost her baby last month after waiting more than five hours for midwives to attend to her plight.
“
Like all the others, when it came time to file a complaint, the family objected so I gave up… but deep down I will never forgive them for what they did to me and what they did to my baby
," said Badiane.
Faced with these recurring cases of violence, Mamyto Nakamura, member of the Justice for Astou Sokhna collective, denounces the
sutura
, that is to say the "discretion" which prevents women from testifying.
“
We were accomplices, too, for a very long time, because we did not denounce the violence, the negligence, the laxity that was happening in this hospital and in a lot of hospitals in Senegal.
Now is an opportunity not to be missed to be able to try to win the fight against violence against women in this country
.
»
► To read also: Senegal: the death of a pregnant woman raises questions about the health system
Support and sanctions
Ousmane Dia, director of public establishments in Senegal, assures that the ministry is aware of this structural problem.
The first point on which we think we should improve the situation further is on the training of health personnel, it is ethics, professional conduct, but also there is something on which we are going to put the focus is the penalties.
We must make these people fear the bad behavior they may have during their service, but also see as far as possible how to support them.
A new demonstration of support for Astou Sokhna is scheduled for April 23 in Dakar.
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Senegal
Women
Health and medicine