Parliament links Mulago preterm deaths to faulty machines

President Yoweri Museveni in one of the delivery rooms at renovated Mulago Women's Hospital recently. PHOTO/FILE

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A recent parliamentary investigation has uncovered a troubling association between the deaths of more than 200 preterm babies at Mulago Women’s Specialised Neo-Natal Hospital and the malfunctioning of crucial medical machinery.

Prompted by whistleblowers and spurred by the findings of the Auditor General’s 2022 report, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) delved into the matter, revealing a direct correlation between inactive equipment and the tragic loss of young lives. Documentation reviewed during an inspection of the hospital outlined a distressing tally of 221 preterm infant fatalities between July 2022 and June 2023.

The inquiry exposed critical breakdowns in essential equipment, including non-operational dialysis machines, intensive care unit (ICU) beds, and ventilators, all vital for the care of vulnerable women and children.

Furthermore, the committee discovered that out of the 12 ICU beds and 12 ventilator machines available, only three of each were functional, with the remainder lacking essential accessories such as monitors and pulse oximeters.

Expressing profound disappointment, PAC chairperson Mr. Muwanga Kivumbi remarked, “The gravity of this issue necessitates further investigation. It is disheartening that the equipment, for which we incurred significant debt, lies dormant within this hospital.”

He added, “Despite these pressing issues, our expenditure at the medical stores exceeds our budget.”

Of particular concern was the non-operational Shs640 million dialysis machine, intended for the treatment of kidney disease, which has remained out of service since 2022.

Dr. Evelyn Nabunya, the hospital’s executive director, attributed the scarcity of essential accessories to Phillips, the equipment supplier.

“As for the accessories, their absence significantly impacts the functionality of the equipment. However, all the equipment in this hospital is supplied by Phillips, and we encounter challenges in obtaining these accessories promptly,” Dr. Nabunya explained.

She continued, “Nevertheless, we have identified an alternative supplier capable of furnishing us with Phillips accessories to mitigate these delays, and we are optimistic about receiving regular supplies.”

In the Auditor General’s report for the Financial Year 2022/2023, Mr. John Muwanga highlighted the prolonged lack of repair for Intensive Care Unit accessories such as ventilators and monitors.

“This facility imposes high charges on Ugandans, yet the machinery remains unrepaired. It is a blatant deception of Ugandans who pay exorbitant fees for non-functional amenities at a purportedly specialized hospital,” remarked Ms. Gorreti Namugga, the PAC vice chairperson.