This archive report was first published on 6 August 2019.
Published on August 6, 2019, a family in Mombasa, Kenya, was left distraught after a scan revealed that the woman was not pregnant.
Loureen Awuor, 23, had been attending antenatal services at Utange Medical Centre for eight months, where health workers assured her that her unborn baby was doing fine.
Her husband, Ken Murimi, 29, had even chosen a name, Gabriele, and bought clothes, diapers, and all the necessities to welcome their baby.
However, on July 19, a scan at Coast Provincial General Hospital revealed that Ms Awuor was not pregnant, with doctors concluding that she had a false pregnancy.
Ms Awuor had been taking antenatal care at Utange Medical Centre, where she paid Sh1,000 for drugs and injections per visit, and was given all the essential drugs and supplements recommended for expectant mothers.
Her husband is now calling for stern action against the facility, questioning whether the medics were licensed.
According to gynaecologist Ramadhan Marjan, the condition is known as false pregnancy, which mostly affects women who crave for children and experience symptoms such as morning sickness and a distended belly.
Dr Marjan explained that an ultrasound is the best test to determine the condition, and inexperienced medics may not easily realise it.
