Media reports last week indicated that three babies died due to lack of oxygen at Kawempe Referral Hospital, which is currently handling Mulago National Referral Hospital’s obstetrics and gynecology department.
The Ministry of Health needs an additional UGX700 million for 14 regional referral hospitals and health centre IVs to cater for maintenance of oxygen plants.
Appearing before the parliamentary Committee on Health on Wednesday, the Minister for Health, Dr Ruth Aceng, said with the funds and better oxygen plants, there would be a reduction in deaths due to lack of oxygen.
The Minister made this clarification after MPs raised concern following the death of babies as reported in media on last week.
Media reports last week indicated that three babies died due to lack of oxygen at Kawempe Referral Hospital, which is currently handling Mulago National Referral Hospital’s obstetrics and gynecology department.
According to the reports, the three pre-term babies died after the oxygen in the cylinder they were sharing got used up.
Aceng clarified that the babies did not die due to lack of oxygen but due to an accident that occurred while switching the oxygen cylinders.
“It was unfortunate that a mother lost two children. The process of changing the oxygen cylinders from one to the other and disinfectant medication for premature babies was lacking at that time,