Written By | Jovita Hasto
Health official at Uganda Martyrs Hospital,Ibanda receiving a neonatal equipment. [Photo: Jovita Hasto]
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IBANDA
Uganda Martyrs Hospital, Ibanda has officially opened a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) aimed at reducing deaths associated with premature births in the area after receiving support from the Rotary Club of Ibanda.
The facility, located in Kagongo Division in Ibanda Municipality, has for many years faced challenges managing premature babies due to limited equipment and facilities needed for survival. Most cases have often been referred to Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital for intensive care management, with the hospital sometimes facing criticism from the community for failing to save the babies.
Authorities at the hospital say the facility previously had only one incubator machine, which was insufficient to handle the growing demand as children continued dying during referrals.
Dr. Gothaldo Tumubugane, the health in-charge at Uganda Martyrs Hospital, Ibanda, said there was an urgent need to save the lives of premature babies. He noted that the hospital, being one of the biggest private health facilities in the region, frequently receives referrals from lower government health centres in Kitagwenda, Ibanda, Kazo, and Kiruhura districts despite having limited capacity to handle neonatal cases.
“We receive many referrals from lower health facilities, including neighbouring districts. We have also been relying on Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, which would sometimes question why we referred mothers with premature babies late. We have been blamed for circumstances beyond our control, but we want to inform the public that this neonatal facility has been opened with the intention of saving our babies,” he said.
According to hospital records, the facility handled 52 premature births in March, of which five babies died. In April, 44 premature babies were delivered and five died, while in May, 40 premature babies were born and three lost their lives due to congenital abnormalities and delayed referrals from lower health facilities.
Dr. Tumubugane explained that the hospital had previously attempted various interventions to help premature babies survive before referral to Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, eventually deciding to establish its own neonatal unit.
“Previously, the facility had a bed capacity of only five and limited funds to meet operational expenses such as oxygen and electricity required to run a NICU. We are glad that with support from the Rotary Club of Ibanda, we shall now be able to save more premature babies,” he added.
Some of the machines meant to support the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Uganda Martyrs Hospital, Ibanda arrive at the facility
Mr. Kenan Akantorana, the President of the Rotary Club of Ibanda, said the support extended to the NICU is worth approximately Shs190 million and includes equipment and training support for health workers.
“Among the equipment delivered are incubators, CPAP machines, beds, phototherapy machines, among others. This support is worth about Shs190 million because we want to save children in Ibanda who have been dying. This is the biggest health facility in Ibanda and many other facilities depend on it, but the major challenge was the absence of a neonatal unit. We are glad that our support will make a significant contribution,” he said.
Mr. Eugene Bakahika said similar neonatal services are expected to be extended to other facilities within Ibanda District to reduce the burden on the hospital.
“We are looking forward to improving health facilities across Ibanda, and our next support will go to Kihani Health Centre III so that parents can save on transport costs and reduce congestion. The biggest challenge facing our health facilities is limited resources. We shall also embark on training health workers on neonatal care across our facilities,” he said.
Ms. Betty Kwitegyetse, the Deputy Chairperson of Ibanda District, pledged more support to the hospital and encouraged residents to seek neonatal services locally instead of travelling elsewhere.
“Ibanda District has been contributing Shs100 million quarterly, but as health workers have explained, our facilities continue facing financial challenges. The district will plan on increasing this budget to Shs150 million to support the hospital, especially the neonatal facility,” she said.
Dr. Darlington Muhwezi, the Principal Health Officer for Ibanda Municipality, said the availability of such services will significantly reduce neonatal deaths in the district.
“This is the biggest hospital in the district alongside lower government facilities. We are happy that there will now be improvement in saving premature babies. Children have been dying because we did not have such a facility. This is the first of its kind,” he said.
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