Warning: Trying to access array offset on value of type bool in /usr/www/users/urnnet/a/story.php on line 43 Congestion Takes Toll on Arua Hospital Neonatal Unit :: Uganda Radionetwork
Suzan Tabu, the Principal Nursing Officer says although they are supposed to handle just 16 babies, on average they admit 150 babies in a month, which has overstretched the few workers at the unit.
Health workers
at Arua Regional Referral Hospital are grappling with the high number of
premature births amidst limited space in the neonatal care unit.
The unit was designed to accommodate only 16 babies, especially those born
before 28 weeks of gestation and those who are deemed to be unwell at birth.
However, the high numbers of premature and weak babies have forced the workers
to pile three or more babies on the same bed.
Suzan Tabu, the Principal Nursing Officer says although they are supposed to
handle just 16 babies, on average they admit 150 babies in a month, which has
overstretched the few workers at the unit. She says the facility has only
twelve incubators and five ordinary beds which are inadequate to accommodate
all the pre-terms that need critical attention to ensure their survival.
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Mothers and caretakers seeking services at Arua Hospital are also worried about
the situation saying it is a risk to their children’s lives.
Brenda Ezuru, one of the mothers says that she has seen medical workers
removing some frail babies from beds to accommodate those deemed to be more
critical. She however appealed to the government to construct a new unit or
else provide additional beds so as to provide a good delivery environment for
mothers and their babies.
“Just yesterday, one of the weak children was removed from the incubator in order
to accommodate another critical child. Government should give us more beds and
incubators”, she said.
Doctor Filbert Nyeko, the Hospital Director says that they have addressed the
concerns with the Ministry of Health and promised to respond. He, however,
advised pregnant women to ensure proper feeding to avoid complications
requiring neonatal services.
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Arua Regional Referral Hospital currently serves twelve districts in the West
Nile sub-region, as well as receiving patients from the neighboring DRC and
South Sudan.
