A medical expert has said the medical staff at the state hospital failed to monitor and follow up on a mother who underwent a caesarean, and this contributed to the removal of her womb.

Amalia Festus delivered her baby at seven months at Katutura State Hospital in 2017, and the matter is yet to be finalised by the Windhoek High Court.

In a report compiled by obstetrician Dr. Johannes Keiseb, Festus arrived at the hospital late in labour on 12 December 2017.

Doctors observed signs of stress in the baby, but they only decided to perform a caesarean section about an hour later.

The surgery itself took place two hours after that decision. The baby was delivered alive and admitted for further care.

After the operation, the nursing staff recorded ongoing bleeding, but the medication normally given to reduce it was not prescribed.

The doctor who studied Festus' medical record found that blood tests later showed a high drop in her blood level, indicating blood loss, but no blood transfusion was ordered.

Over the next two days, according to the doctor, Festus was reviewed by medical officers and discharged without further blood tests or treatment for low blood levels.

On the fourth day after delivery, she became unwell and was taken back to the hospital, where she was admitted to Windhoek Central Hospital. She later developed a severe infection that resulted in doctors removing her womb.

Dr. Keiseb’s report states that earlier action, closer monitoring, specialist review, and treatment of blood loss could have prevented the infection and its outcome.

Festus has been fighting in court and has since sued the state for N$3.8 million.

The matter was referred to a court-connected mediation last year in April, but the outcome of that mediation is not available on the High Court's system.

The most recent update on Festus' matter in the court system says the case is postponed to February 10. Festus is represented by lawyer Norman Tjombe.