11/09/2026
Psalm 23
“They hid the truth” - Mother Demands Answers Over Newborn’s Death
A grieving mother is demanding answers from Intermediate Hospital Rundu after her newborn baby allegedly sustained a cut to the head during delivery and later died after spending nearly two weeks in hospital.
Anna Kasera, 19, said she was taken to the hospital by her grandmother on the morning of 14 August after experiencing stomach pains. She arrived at around 11:00 and gave birth at approximately 13:00.
Kasera said she was stitched after giving birth before being taken to theatre for further treatment. She alleged that she was later told she had been stitched incorrectly and needed another procedure.
“I was taken to the theatre where they went to put that machine,” she said, adding that she was woken at around 16:00 and taken to a ward.
Kasera said she was not immediately informed about her baby's condition.
She recalled that her mother called her around 04:00 and asked whether she had seen the baby.
“I told her I didn't see anything. They didn't tell me anything,” she said.
Following her mother's advice, Kasera said she went to check on the baby in the area where premature babies were being cared for. She later returned with her father, where they were allegedly informed by a female doctor that the baby had a wound on the head.
Kasera said neither she nor her father had previously been informed about the injury.
According to Kasera, the doctor said she had not been present when the injury occurred and could not explain how it happened, advising them to speak to the nurses who assisted during the delivery.
Kasera said the baby's head and eyes were swollen, with the baby initially unable to open her eyes. The swelling gradually subsided.
The family was later told the baby would undergo X-rays and other examinations. Kasera said she repeatedly asked how deep the cut was and was told it had not gone deep.
She alleges that, after persistent questioning, she was eventually told the baby had been cut during delivery because she was moving.
“They said apparently when I gave birth, they said that I was moving and then they cut the baby by mistake,” Kasera said.
The baby remained in hospital from 14 August until 28 August, when she died.
Johanness Lyevera, 50, Kasera's uncle, told Eagle FM that the family was informed about the wound only three days after the birth and was initially denied access to the baby.
Lyevera also alleged that nurses performed an episiotomy because the baby was not coming out.
However, Ministry of Health and Social Services spokesperson Walters Kamaya confirmed the incident but said the baby's death was associated with prematurity and other medical conditions.
Kamaya said the baby was born prematurely at 32 completed weeks and developed serious complications, including difficulty breathing, resulting in admission to the neonatal intensive care unit.
He said counselling was provided to Kasera and her maternal grandfather the day after the birth, during which the baby's clinical condition, including the head wound, was discussed.
A further multidisciplinary counselling session involving the mother and other family members was held on 20 August.
According to Kamaya, the baby's condition and cause of death were again discussed with Kasera and her maternal grandfather on 28 August and with paternal family members on 1 September.
The family is now seeking clarity on what happened during the delivery, the extent of the injury, the treatment provided and whether the injury was connected to the complications that preceded the baby's death.
Intermediate Hospital Rundu Medical Superintendent Dr. Theresia Shivera said if the family remains dissatisfied with the answers provided, they can still approach her office for further clarification.
She said the hospital remains committed to transparent communication with patients and their families and extended condolences to the family.
Report: Annakleta Haikera
Photo used for illustration purposes
