Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Dan Wandera
Published on 2024-01-29 07:00:00
The refurbished neonatal intensive care unit at Luweero Hospital has raised hopes of leaders who are aiming to reduce stillbirths by at least 50 percent. Equipped with baby warmers, kangaroo chairs, baby cots, and oxygen concentrators, among other essential equipment, the new unit has the capacity to handle at least 30 babies, a significant improvement from the old facility where five babies shared one bed.
Dr. Gloria Nakalema, a pediatrician at the facility, expressed her relief at being able to safely manage the emergency process for newborns without having to congest them on a single bed, which posed a risk of spreading infections. The Shs200m neonatal intensive care unit was constructed by the Ministry of Health in partnership with ADARA Group.
According to Dr. Stephen Mageera, the medical superintendent of Luweero Hospital, the new facility will reduce costs previously incurred when referring children to hospitals in Nakaseke District located 14kms and 25kms away. The hospital had been dependent on the services at those distant hospitals due to limited resources.
The hospital handles between 350 and 370 deliveries per month, with an estimated 435 babies receiving neonatal care services at the facility in the past six months. With the average outpatient turnout being 300 per day, the new facility will significantly ease the strain on the hospital’s resources.
Madeline Vanghan, the CEO of ADARA Group, stated that their partnership with the Ministry of Health aims to boost health service delivery and that they plan to establish more neonatal intensive care units at different hospitals in Uganda. The partnership also involves training personnel to ensure sustainability of the facilities.
Erasto Kibirango, the Luweero District chairperson, expressed that the new facilities are a boost to the healthcare system and service delivery in the area. The 2022 Uganda Demographic and Health Survey revealed a significant reduction in child and infant mortality, from 63 per 1,000 live births to 52 per 1,000 live births in 2022. This improvement underscores the importance of well-equipped neonatal care units in addressing the needs of newborns and reducing infant mortality.
