The tragic case of a 17-year-old girl giving birth outside Khénifra's regional hospital has sparked public outrage and prompted a protest by the Moroccan Association for Human Rights, demanding accountability and a thorough investigation. As authorities probe the incident, questions arise about the hospital's conduct and the "pay first" policy that may have contributed to this preventable tragedy. DR ‹ › The distressing incident of a minor giving birth outside the regional hospital in Khénifra last week has ignited widespread outrage. In response, the Moroccan Association for Human Rights staged a protest on Wednesday in front of the hospital, demanding a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the event. The ordeal began early Friday morning, March 13, when the 17-year-old girl, experiencing labor pains, was rushed to the hospital's emergency department by ambulance. Upon arrival, hospital staff attempted to contact the on-call obstetrician-gynecologist, but according to the young woman, the doctor's phone was unreachable. Meanwhile, a midwife informed the girl that her cervix was closed and attributed the pain to a possible infection, administering a serum that failed to alleviate her condition. The young woman, still in bed, told Yabiladi, «The pain was intense and abnormal.» She explained that she spent the night at the hospital awaiting the doctor's arrival. The following morning, she was asked to pay a fee before any medical procedures could commence, a cost her family could not bear due to their precarious financial situation. Despite her mother's pleas to begin the delivery process with a promise to settle the bill later, the request was rejected. Investigation Initiated as Hospital Staff and Administration Questioned Confronted with this dire situation, the girl and her mother left the hospital for a nearby clinic. There, a doctor assessed her condition, confirmed the urgency of her situation, and issued a document stating the need for immediate delivery. Tragically, as they exited the clinic, the girl's labor pains intensified, and she gave birth on the street, witnessed by several passersby. «I was bleeding and started screaming in pain. I fell to my knees and could no longer stand. Fortunately, a doctor happened to be there and helped me deliver the baby until the ambulance arrived, but the baby died on the way.» Upon learning of the incident, the Moroccan Association for Human Rights intervened, actively monitoring the case and organizing a protest outside the hospital to condemn the events and demand accountability and justice. Kacha Kabir, a member of the Moroccan Association for Human Rights in Khénifra, informed Yabiladi that a regional committee had visited the hospital, interviewed the on-duty health staff, and spoke with the institution's director. Meanwhile, security authorities have launched an investigation into the incident. Kabir stressed the need for a central investigation to assign responsibility, ensure accountability, and put an end to the "pay first" policy. In a related development, given that the girl is a minor and the pregnancy resulted from an extramarital relationship, the young man involved has been presented before the public prosecutor at the Beni Mellal Court of Appeal for questioning.
