Rubaga Hospital has approached the family of Judith Nansubuga, the expectant mother who died last week at the hospital after she was allegedly mishandled by the medical staff.
Nansubuga died shortly after she was induced into labor to remove a lifeless fetus four days after the baby died in the womb. The deceased was admitted at Rubaga Hospital on February 18th and died on March 5th, three days before Uganda celebrated the International Women’s Day. The 35 year old nursery school teacher died after Doctors at Rubaga hospital reportedly failed to control her blood pressure. A death certificate signed by Doctor Joseph Abel indicates that Nansubuga died of severe Pre-Eclampsia Toxaemia (PET) and primary postpartum haemorrhage (PPH).
PET is a condition in which high blood pressure and fluid retention prevents normal growth of the unborn baby forcing abortion or premature birth. PPH, on the other hand, is an emergency condition characterized by excessive bleeding after normal or cesarean delivery. Not satisfied with the explanation of the hospital, Phelister Nakamya, sister of the deceased and her husband Michael Kayongo, wrote a protest letter to the hospital management detailing events leading to the death of Nansubuga.
URN broke the news of Nansubuga’s death forcing the management of Rubaga Hospital to consider discussing with the family to reach an understanding. Kayongo confirmed to URN on Thursday evening that they had been approached by the Hospital management for a meeting on Friday. The family was contacted through two Catholics priests who warned members of the deceased family against dragging the hospital to court.
Nakamya says that the priests told them that dragging Rubaga Hospital to court would be like opening an indirect war on the Catholic Church which owns the hospital. The priest also warned family members that they would be denied the last sacrament of anointing of the sick if they insist on dragging Rubaga to court. Nakamya says that as a family they won't accept to be boxed into a corner but want the hospital to take full responsibility for the death of her sister.
Kayongo also says that he was contacted through Doctor Peter Kibuuka who the family contacted when they failed to find Dr. Jumba Mukasa, the Doctor who was on call when his wife died. Nansubuga’s painful death devastated the family. Her mother has not yet recovered from the shock of the death of her daughter. Nakamya, who was on the side of her sister to her death, is still traumatized.
//Cue in: “I think I just…
Cue out: …dying.”//
Nakamya says that she experiences nightmares of her sister breathing her last.
