By Wetondo Denis Julius
MBALE
A family of an expectant mother who died last year has sued Butiru Chrisco private hospital located at Butiru Town Council in Manafwa district for allegedly mishandling their daughter.
The family of Suzan Nabifo together with Centre for Health Human Right and Development (CEHURD) today 15th April 15, 2021filed a case at Mbale High Court accusing the Private Hospital of neglect.
While speaking today at Mbale high court premises after filing the case, Lucky Gloria, the Executive Director CEHURD says that Nabifo died due to intestinal complication according to doctor’s report after being rushed to Mbale Regional Referral Hospital.
She adds that doctors at Crisco hospital failed to operate the deceased successfully due to lack of enough skills which led to the death of Nabifo.
Gloria also says that the delay in referring Nabifo to Mbale regional referral hospital over unknown reasons has also been counted as a reason that led to her death.
The director also says that they want government to give appropriate punishment to Crisco hospital for recruiting less qualified staff and the family members to get justice.
Jane Kirabo, the lawyer representing the family and CEHURD says that Nabifo would have not died if doctors at the hospital had referred her to Mbale regional referral hospital for specialized care in time.
She also says that since their neglect caused Nabifo’s death, the hospital must be held responsible with serious penalties to be a lesson to other health facilities.
What actually happened? Deceased’ Mother Tells the Story
Mary Nelima, the mother of the deceased says they spent four days at Butiru Crisco hospital with doctors not willing to refer Nabifo to Mbale regional referral hospital for further treatment.
She said the Butiru Doctors were adamant even when they as a family requested for the referral due to the bad condition after operation.
She adds that later as family members they forcefully carried the patient and left Butiru Crisco hospital to Mbale region referral hospital. At the Referral facility, doctors checked and discovered that her had had her small intestines tampered with and womb which caused her die shortly afterwards.
Nelima also says that she wants government to intervene into the matter since Crisco hospital is becoming death trap for expectant mothers because the doctors operating there are not qualified.
Morris Wenwa, the husband of the deceased says that he is currently suffering with the baby after the mother’s death.
He asked Mbale high court to give him justice since his wife died due to neglect of doctors at Crisco hospital.
Wenwa also says that currently he is facing challenges of providing for the young child and other three the mother left him with.
However, Gideon Wamasebo, the Manafwa District Health Officer refuted claims that doctors at Crisco private hospital are not qualified.
He adds that his team has been moving in all private health faculties in the district to check the qualifications of all medical workers operating from there.
“Those private facilities we found without qualified personnel were closed up to now,” Wamasebo said.
Wamasebo also says that the death of Nabifo may not have been due to neglect of doctors but was quick to add that if the family has enough evidence they can continue with the case to get justice.
However efforts to get a comment from the management of Butiru Crisco private hospital were futile by press time after all their known official lines went unpicked.
According to the Centre for health human right and development (CEHURD) Maternal Mortality in Uganda for last year was 3036 indicating that 16 expectant women die on a daily basis.
