Soroti, (UG): At least 12 people are feared to have died since last Friday at Soroti Regional Referral Hospital after a vital oxygen machine at the facility suffered a critical malfunction, rendering it inoperative for days.
Soroti Regional Referral Hospital serves the immediate community and extends its wings to two other sub-regional referral hospitals in Lira and Moroto.
local reports indicate that the tragic loss of over 12 lives since Friday plunged the community into mourning, with other patients in critical condition living on a countdown if the situation does not change.
The Hospital’s principal administrator Benzy Omoya when contacted on Tuesday confirmed the malfunctioning oxygen machine, but declined to reveal further information on how the hospital is managing without this critical piece of machinery.
Soroti City MP Jonathan Ebwalu said he was aware of the situation but had been informed that the number of people who may have lost their lives is closer to 15.
Unfortunately, this is not the only challenge the hospital is struggling to handle. The hospital continues to operate despite intermittent power supply.
Within the children’s ward at Soroti Regional Referral Hospital, a quiet but resilient battle unfolds every day. Here, patients find themselves in an unusual circumstance, navigating the challenges of congestion with darkness and an unwavering spirit of endurance.
Patients and their caregivers find themselves operating in near-darkness.
Patients in this ward have adopted the use of touch-sensitive devices, such as mobile phones and tablets, as their sources of light.
Additional Reporting by Eddy Enuru/NP
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