Mother delivers at Roadside in Kagadi, She lacked Transport after referral

By Samuel Tumwesige

KAGADI

A 35 Year old woman has delivered alongside the road few meters from Rugashari Health Center III in Rugashari Town council Kagadi district

Speaking to journalists Vereliano Rumaaya in his 60’s the LCI chairperson for Kashagaali B in Kanyabebe sub county, said his wife one Veronica Nyinabaari 35 all residents of Kashagaali B in Kanyabebe sub county    has been getting antenatal services at the facility.

Rumaaya said he was limited by transport fares to take the wife to Kagadi General Hospital after being referred.

“I’m a carpenter and I had gone to work. I received a phone call that my wife was in labor pains. I hurried to take her to Rugashari HCII but I didn’t find any health worker. I was advised to call the in charge but she also said that she was far away and wasn’t able to help me. Others advised to take her to the Traditional Birth Attendant Sarah and she is the one who has helped me to deliver my wife on a roadside,” Rumaaya told the press

Veronica said she was not given enough attention by the health workers at the facility because none of them even attended to her.

“When I reached the health facility, they told me that my child is sick and they failed to help me. They instead gave me the book and I also decided to walk slowly until when I reached here and fell down and produced my baby,” Veronica said  

According to the midwife on duty Sharon Ayesiga the referral note was given to the couple at 02pm only to hear that the pregnant mother gave birth to a baby boy alongside the road at 5pm.     

“I referred the woman at around 2pm because she had fetal distress and I couldn’t handle the situation. I referred her to Kagadi. I’m also battling with Malaria and being the only midwife at the facility I decided to refer her for better management. The problem with our mothers is they take long to take up the referral advice and if she had adhered to the instructions, she would have delivered at Kagadi Hospital,” Ayesiga said           

However, angry residents accused the health staff at Rugashari HCIII of negligence and that they do not mind whenever a mother goes there in labor pains.    

The facility in charge Grace Ngomiranze confirmed the incident and attributed the challenge to lacking enough medical workers at the facility. 

“The problem that we have at our facility is that we have only one midwife and she had called me that she’s not well. She was on cannula as well. I had earlier reported the shortage to the top management and they had promised to send more workforce at the facility,” Ngomiranze said

She said mothers take longtime to go where they have been referred and this affects them directly. 

“I request our mothers to trust us but also always adhere to the referral letters. We hope once we get more staff, we shall serve our people well,” Ngomiranze added.

She further asked residents to remain calm as they’re in touch with the government to get other staff for better service delivery.

According to health workers, both the mother and the baby are in good health conditions