Rédaction Africa Links 24 with The Observer
Published on 2024-02-26 02:50:51
Margaret Nanyonjo, a 70-year-old woman, had been stuck at Luwero hospital since December last year. She was admitted to the hospital on December 30 after being involved in an accident. Although she was later discharged, she could not leave the hospital as she had lost touch with her relatives and had no identification at the time of admission.
Due to a mental breakdown, Nanyonjo provided several false places of residence, making it difficult for the hospital administrators to trace her relatives. Ronald Ssonko, the medical social officer at Luwero hospital, launched a media appeal asking for Nanyonjo’s family to come forward and take her home since the hospital could no longer care for her.
Fortunately, Nanyonjo’s grandson, Henry Mutyaba, who resides in Mukono municipality, saw the media appeal and realized that his missing grandmother was at Luwero hospital. He explained that Nanyonjo had disappeared from home due to mental illness, and they had been searching for her ever since. Mutyaba expressed gratitude to the hospital for providing his grandmother with necessary medical attention, as they were unaware of her admission.
Dr. Bruno Oyik, the medical superintendent at Luwero hospital, mentioned that after the media reports, they received numerous calls from Nanyonjo’s relatives who wanted to take her home. Following interviews with the relatives, the hospital agreed to release Nanyonjo, allowing her to reunite with her family on Friday. Oyik commended the media for their role in connecting Nanyonjo with her relatives but highlighted the concerning trend of patients being abandoned at the facility.
It was revealed that on average, 20 patients are abandoned at Luwero hospital each month. Most of these patients are either accident victims brought in by the police or individuals referred from community health centers. This situation is alarming and calls for more awareness and support to prevent patients from being left unattended at healthcare facilities.
Nanyonjo’s case serves as a reminder of the importance of staying connected with loved ones, especially in times of distress or crisis. It also highlights the crucial role that media appeals and community outreach can play in reuniting families and providing care to those in need. Let us take this story as a lesson to always look out for each other and ensure that no one is left behind or forgotten in times of need.
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