Kenyan authorities have launched a 30-day nationwide crackdown on medical spas operating without proper licenses, following the death of a woman after a botched cosmetic surgery. The operation aims to address growing concerns over unregulated facilities that pose significant health risks to the public.
The crackdown, announced by Mary Muthoni, the Principal Secretary of Public Health and Professional Standards, is a direct response to the death of 47-year-old Lucy Wambui, who died on October 16 after undergoing a liposuction procedure at Omincare Medical, operating under the name “Body By Design.” The procedure, which went wrong, has raised alarms over the quality of medical services provided by some cosmetic surgery clinics in Kenya.
In an official directive, Muthoni instructed Dr. Jackson Kioko, CEO of the Kenya Health Professional Oversight Authority (KHPOA), to conduct a comprehensive assessment of medical spas across the country and submit a detailed report within 30 days. The Ministry of Health expressed concern over Wambui’s death, emphasizing the failure of medical facilities to adhere to necessary health standards.
“Investigations carried out by the Kenya Medical and Pharmacists Dentists Council (KMPDC) have revealed serious malpractices and violations of health regulations,” Muthoni said in a statement.
Dr. Johansen Oduor, the Chief Government Pathologist, conducted the post-mortem on Wambui’s body and confirmed that the cause of death was acute pneumonia, which likely resulted from a bacterial infection that went untreated for approximately a week. “The infection appears to have developed following the liposuction procedure,” Oduor stated.
According to Wambui’s family, she began experiencing severe complications shortly after the procedure, including abdominal pain, chest pain, and difficulty breathing. Despite these signs, Body By Design reportedly discharged her on October 22, stating that she had been treated for parapneumonic pleural effusion, a condition often linked to bacterial infections post-surgery.
However, Dr. Oduor noted that no signs of parapneumonic pleural effusion were found during the autopsy, further highlighting the mishandling of the case. “This is the second fatality I’ve witnessed linked to a botched liposuction procedure in Kenya. A similar incident occurred nearly a decade ago at another medical spa in Nairobi,” he added.
Liposuction, a popular cosmetic procedure that involves the removal of unwanted fat, is just one of several surgeries offered by medical spas in Kenya. Other procedures commonly available include tummy tucks, Brazilian butt lifts, and breast augmentation. However, experts warn that without proper regulation and oversight, these treatments could continue to endanger the health and safety of unsuspecting patients.
The ongoing investigation and subsequent crackdown are seen as a necessary step to protect consumers and ensure that medical spas operate within the boundaries of established health regulations.
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