By KT Reporter
The death of a 36-year-old mother at Luwero Hospital has again triggered a fresh public outcry over blood shortage and negligence of health workers.
On Friday, Allen Navubya, 36, a resident of Kigulu village in Wobulenzi town council, checked in at Luwero Hospital for delivery. She was referred to the hospital from Katikamu Health Center 111 where she had conducted antenatal visits for months.
Navubya delivered normally a baby girl on Friday at around 6:20 pm at Luwero Hospital. Little did she know that the next hours would lead to the tragic end of her life. She died at around 11;30pm few minutes after she was transferred to Bishop Ceaser Asili Hospital for further management due to overbleeding after delivery.
Navubya left behind a premature baby girl and three other children. The premature baby is currently under care at the Neonatal Care Unit at Kiwoko Hospital.
But the family and relatives accuse health workers at Luwero Hospital of negligence leading to the death of his dear wife.
Dan Nsubuga, the husband says that after the health workers detected the excessive bleeding, they asked him to take blood samples to another private clinic outside the facility to test the blood group because they had erroneously conducted the delivery without checking it.
He said that even after he brought back the results from the blood group tests, the health workers engaged in frantic calls with a colleague who was supposed to be on duty to help them access blood for transfusion in vain.
“It was at around 11; 00 pm, when I managed to hire a private car from Wobulenzi town that drove fast to the facility to evacuate my wife to Bishop Ceaser Asili hospital for further management. I had to sit with my wife who was unconscious in the back seat and hold her because the midwife refused to accompany us saying they are not supposed to do so in a vehicle that isn’t an ambulance” Nsubuga said.
Although Navubya was finally transported to Bishop Ceaser Asili hospital, she died shortly after arrival something Nsubuga blames on delays, lack of a health worker to supply blood for transfusion, or a driver of the ambulance to evacuate them.
Dr Oyik Bruno the Medical Superintendent of Luwero Hospital regretted the incident and said that investigations have commenced to establish the circumstances surrounding the death of the mother.
Oyik said that preliminary investigations indicate that there was a blood shortage for the B+ group for the mother and that by the time they secured supply from Bishop Ceaser Asili hospital, Navubya had lost too much blood leading to her death.
Oyik said that however, investigations are still ongoing to establish whether there were unnecessary delays for referrals and other procedures before they take further disciplinary actions.
He also reiterated his earlier call for the establishment of a regional blood bank to ensure routine supplies to the hospital citing increased demand at the facility.
Every week, at least 27 cases that include mothers, trauma and sickle cell patients require a blood transfusion at Luwero Hospital. At least 625 mothers deliver at Luwero Hospital per quarter of a large number also require a blood transfusion.
Erastus Kibirango the LC 5 Chairman of Luwero district attended the burial of Navubya on Sunday and apologized for the incident saying the matter would be thoroughly investigated to ensure those responsible are held accountable.
In 2022, Susan Nanfuma 30 a resident of Luwero town council and Specioza Nabasinga aged 36 years a resident of Kakabala village died at Luwero hospital over inadequate medical supplies.
In 2023/24, atleast 14 mothers died in facilities across the Luwero district due to factors that are associated with delays in arriving at facilities, lack of blood and other essential medicines during delivery among others-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
