Premature babies at Uganda's top women's hospital are getting shuttled to other facilities because nobody on staff can even check their eyes.
NICU crisis at Mulago women's hospital
NICU crisis at Mulago women's hospital
- Dr. Sam Ononge says 45% of NICU babies are preemies.
- No eye specialist exists to screen these newborns.
- Untreated babies risk going permanently blind later.
- Transfers to Mengo and Nsambya expose them further.
- One nurse currently juggles six babies in intensive care.
- Ononge says burnout is leading to preventable mistakes.
- Surgical cases get rerouted to Mulago National Referral Hospital.
- He wants staffing bumped to at least 60% capacity.
- A pediatric center is in the works eventually.
- IVF services have already produced successful deliveries there.
- Donor recruitment for the IVF program starts soon.
- Hon. Gorreth Namugga demanded full hospital funding immediately.
- Namugga pushed for specialist recruitment as a top priority.
- She suggested subsidized fees instead of total waivers.
