According to ekyooto, Kiruddu Hospital in Kawempe is shrouded in sorrow following the heartbreaking loss of at least seven newborn babies in the maternity wing. The infants tragically lost their lives when the hospital experienced an electricity outage lasting nearly three hours. The power failure rendered the NICU incubator, vital for stabilizing the fragile lives of the babies, inoperable.
The NICU incubators rely on a steady supply of electricity to support the lives of prematurely born children. However, when the blackout occurred, the hospital’s response to save the babies’ lives was reportedly inadequate.
A concerned whistleblower, who is also a parent of one of the victims, shared their distressing experience with our reporter. They revealed that the electricity blackout persisted for over three hours, leaving the lives of the most vulnerable infants hanging in the balance, with some tragically succumbing to their fragile conditions.
“I helplessly watched as my baby passed away. There was nothing I could do to save them. I am deeply disappointed in the hospital management,” expressed the grieving parent, who wished to remain anonymous.
Regrettably, the standby generator, intended for such emergencies, proved ineffective as the operator had allegedly left their duty earlier than scheduled.
When approached by the media, the spokesperson for Mulago Hospital, where Kiruddu Hospital falls under, declined to comment on the matter. She expressed her lack of knowledge about the specific incident, stating that she was awaiting a briefing regarding the tragedy. “I don’t have any information yet,” she insisted.
The incident has cast a dark cloud over Kiruddu Hospital and raised concerns about the adequacy of emergency protocols and the availability of essential resources to safeguard the lives of vulnerable newborns. The devastating loss of these innocent lives highlights the urgent need for a comprehensive review of the hospital’s systems to prevent such tragic occurrences in the future.
Authorities are being called upon to conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the electricity blackout and subsequent deaths. Efforts should also be directed towards ensuring the availability of backup power supply and well-trained staff to handle emergencies, particularly in critical units like the NICU.
The community mourns the loss of these precious lives and expects accountability for the lapses that led to this heartbreaking tragedy.
Would you like to get published on this Website? You can now email Uganda Times: an Opinion, any breaking news, Exposes, story ideas, human interest, articles, or any interesting videos: [email protected]. Or join the Ugandatimes WhatsApp Group or Telegram Channel for the latest updates