'I couldn't let Kenyan women die during childbirth during curfew' - Kenyan doctor

A Kenyan doctor has been helping pregnant women find emergency transport to the hospital during curfew hours.

Dr Jemimah Kariuki tweeted her intention to help women seek treatment to reduce child mortality in the country.

Since her tweet went out, she has helped several women get to the hospital in good time despite the dusk-to-dawn curfew imposed to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

"It's supposed to be normal for us to give birth without any issues."

Cases of pregnant women either dying or delivering distressed or stillborn babies started emerging after the curfew was imposed.

The crackdown by the police on those who flouted the curfew meant that many women were afraid to seek medical attention.

Dr Kariuki has been helping women access health care through a phone call.

"Initially, when I was doing it alone, it meant I was handling 30 to 40 calls on a single day," she said.