Tororo General Referral Hospital is currently under scrutiny as authorities launch an investigation into the tragic deaths of two infants in the Neonatal Unit. The Tororo Deputy Resident District Commissioner, Albert Amula, expressed shock and concern as preliminary findings indicated that the babies suffocated to death with no health worker on duty during the daytime.
Amula, leading a team of district leaders to the government hospital, emphasized the significance of the facility as the primary location where people anticipate receiving top-notch healthcare services. The incident raises concerns about the potential impact on patients’ confidence in seeking safe deliveries at the hospital.
Hospital insiders revealed that the absence of a duty officer compelled the infants to rely solely on oxygen throughout the day. A nurse from the night shift left, assuming her colleague would take over, leaving the babies vulnerable to the tragic outcome.
An anonymous parent shared the heartbreaking experience of witnessing her baby boy’s death, expressing optimism that seeking delivery elsewhere might have resulted in a different outcome. Tearfully, she called on the government to intervene and ensure the safety of deliveries at the hospital.
A whistleblower shed light on the alleged abandonment of the health facility by staff during the festive season. The claim suggested that, during daytime hours, many medical workers mysteriously disappeared, leaving patients in the care of interns and volunteer nurses.
Tororo District education and health secretary, Noah Ukumu, questioned the integrity of the duty officer and lamented the loss of lives at the hospital. The incident prompted reflection on the overall functionality and responsibility of the healthcare staff.
In response to the tragic events, Tororo Hospital medical superintendent Dr. Thomas Ochar issued an apology and pledged to conduct an audit into the fatalities. However, he emphasized the urgent need for the government to address the critical staff shortage at the hospital’s maternity wing, specifically the Neonatal Unit.
Dr. Ochar highlighted the challenges faced by the hospital, revealing that only seven nurses staffed the Neonatal Unit. On the day of the incident, two nurses were on annual leave, one was sick, and another failed to show up for duty. He stressed the constitutional right of patients to access health services but acknowledged the limitations imposed by the staff shortage.
