By Ayomide Otitoju
A wave of public outrage has erupted in the Democratic Republic of Congo after a viral video appeared to show a young woman being assaulted by a doctor during childbirth in a public hospital in Kinshasa.
The footage, recorded inside a delivery room, shows the woman screaming shortly after giving birth, with visible blood on the hospital bed. The video appears to capture a medical worker striking her with an instrument and later slapping her as she resists treatment.
The incident has triggered condemnation from top officials, including Prime Minister Judith Suminwa, who described the violence as “totally unacceptable,” and First Lady Denise Tshisekedi, who called for swift action against those responsible.
In response to the backlash, the doctor involved was prosecuted and later convicted. He admitted to hitting the patient but claimed he was trying to manage complications during a post-partum haemorrhage. He also told the court he ordered the recording of the incident to protect himself in the event of the patient’s death.
He received a two-month suspended prison sentence for assault and recording the video. The Congolese state was also ordered to pay $2,500 in damages.
The case has drawn renewed attention to maternal healthcare conditions in the country, where the World Health Organization estimates maternal mortality at 427 deaths per 100,000 live births—among the highest globally.
Health authorities acknowledge that overcrowded facilities, shortages of trained staff, and limited medical supplies continue to strain delivery services. Health Minister Samuel Roger Kamba said while emergency kits containing anaesthetics are distributed to hospitals, incidents of verbal and physical abuse in maternity wards remain a concern.
Women’s rights advocates say the problem is systemic. Activists, including Afia Mama’s Anny Modi, argue that some cases of obstetric violence are driven by stigma, particularly against young or unmarried mothers.
Several women have also come forward with testimonies of alleged mistreatment during childbirth, describing traumatic experiences and inadequate pain management in hospitals.
Medical officials, including the president of the Congolese medical council, Berthier Nsadi, say the incident has prompted renewed calls for improved training of healthcare workers, especially midwives. The country currently has an estimated one midwife for every 16,000 people, far below World Health Organization recommendations.
