Babies die due to power black out.
By Lydia Etii Ajwang
At least 15 babies died at Mulago National Referral Hospital after electricity went off.
This unfortunate incident happened on 12th January 2023 after power went off for three hours.This leaves many questioning the service delivery at a National Hospital like Mulago.
The parents were aggrieved and inconsolable due to the loss of the innocent souls.These babies were born with young lungs and couldn’t breathe on their own naturally.
They could only breathe with the support of oxygen from the intensive care unit.Some babies were not necessarily premature but just had breathing difficulties so they had to use the intensive care unit to breathe till they could breathe on their own.
The incubators require electricity to support the lives of prematurely born children. But when electricity went off, not much was done by the hospital to save the lives of the babies.
“I watched helplessly as my baby died. I could not do anything to save it. I am so disappointed in the hospital management, ” said a heartbroken parent who requested not to be named.
The Mulago Hospital publicist declined to comment on the matter when approached by media. “I am not alive to facts regarding that particular incident. I will be available soon as I am briefed about the incident,” She said.”I don’t know anything yet.” She insisted.
We request the government and the . Ministry of Health to avail the Neonatal department with a stand by generator so as to avoid occurrence of such in the future.
May their innocent souls rest in peace.
History of incubators
It took a war, famine, and poultry to develop the technological breakthrough responsible for saving thousands of premature infants. The Franco-Prussian war in 1870-1871, along with a concomitant famine, had contributed to a significant population decline in France. To increase the growth rate, the French needed to start having more babies, as quickly as possible. But one obstetrician realized that if he could find a way to reduce infant mortality, then the population growth rate problem could be solved far sooner.