BY: AMACHA Goli
Adjumani the hospital management team is investigating dubious circumstances under which an infant succumbed to yet unexplained death.
The mother of the baby, Alice Julie was transported to Adjumani hospital on July 5, 2021, at around 1:00 pm with an UltraSound scan indicating that the umbilical cord was wrapped around the neck according to the father Mindra Severino.
However, the mother was delayed up to 4:00 am the following morning when she was finally delivered to the theatre for the caesarian section.
Mindra Severino divulged that even when his wife was groaning in labor pain she was cruelly abandoned to her fate yet two other mothers who were brought about six hours later were rushed to the theatre and delivered safely.
A medic who talked to me on condition of anonymity said the baby was delivered with fetal distress and was put on life support in the internal care unit but succumbed to death on July 8, 2021.
The father of the deceased baby accused the midwife in charge Acen Christine of administering the drug that was not prescribed by the doctor and further narrates that even the drug that was prescribed by the doctor was administered two hours earlier sending the baby into a convulsion.
There was chaos in the maternity ward when the baby named Gloria Ilisi was pronounced dead on July 8, 2021, the body of the infant was released after a long deadlock even then the hospital management refused to issue the death certificate and the medical form.
To date the actual cause of the death has not been established as the hospital administrator Oja Michael was locked up in a crisis meeting to ascertain the cause of the death and if there was an element of criminal negligence.
According to the ministry of health policy, all maternal and infant deaths at health facilities must be audited within seven days.
The Adjumani Medical superintendent Dr. Ambaku Michael insists there was no foul play arguing that the deceased infant’s mother was progressing well and that the two mothers who were rushed straight to the theatre had obstructed labor.
Ignatius Omacet, the family lawyer of deceased baby Gloria Ilisi has demanded an explanation from Adjumani hospital authority within one day{today}.
Speaking to journalists this morning, counsel Ignatius detailed that he has received instructions from the father of the deceased child to institute legal action against midwife Acen Christine and Adjumani hospital as an institution.
Counsel Ignatius said he is ready to file a complaint of criminal negligence against midwife Acen Christine and Adjumani hospital.
The Adjumani district secretary for health Sabuni John described the incident as shocking but also uncalled for if indeed it is true the midwife acted in total disregard to her professional code of conduct and called for dialogue with the relatives of the deceased infant.
The infant mortality rate in Uganda currently stands at 54 per 1.000 live births whine that of Adjumani district could not readily be availed by the office of DHO.
Amacha Goli
Freelance Journalist
Email: [email protected]
Mobile Contact: +256754302407
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