Health Ministry disowns pics of ‘babies congestion’ in Hospital.
Social media pic of Babies purportedly taken in Hospital, the Ministry of Health has disputed claims that there is inadequate facilities in the neonatal section at Kawempe referral to the extent that space for new born babies is improvised with others accommodated in chairs.
This is in response to a picture that has been making rounds on social media platforms showing new born babies in a congested area with some laid in chairs. The picture was purportedly taken at Kawempe referral Hospital.
In a statement released by the minister of Health Dr. Jane Ruth Acieng, the pictures circulating on social media do not depict the actual situation in Kawempe Hospital. She however admitted that Kawempe Hospital experiences high patient numbers, and delivers 80 – 100 babies everyday, 2500 babies every month, translating to 30,000 babies every year.
The minister attributed high numbers of patients to increased numbers of referrals from health facilities around Kampala.
Contrary to what is in the picture, the minister said babies at the facility are in a temperature-controlled environment, and infection prevention measures are adhered to ensure safety of babies’ lives.
The minister further said that government is aware of the challenges at Kawempe Hospital, and the ministry of Health has provided some solutions to the high patient numbers including expansion of space in the neonatal special care unit at Kawempe National Referral Hospital.
Further, the ministry said it is working with Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) and the neighbouring Local Governments to ensure that the health facilities are functionalized to full capacity to curb the high referral numbers
Dr Lawrence Kazibwe the director of Kawempe hospital says that they have the capacity of admitting about 60 babies but the number of deliveries at the hospital is high at about 100 per day. This is not the first time conditions at Kawempe hospital have been put in the limelight. Three months ago, babies at the unit died due to a power outage.
