More than 60 doctors, pharmacists, nurses and dentists at Jinja Hospital have gone on a sit-down strike protesting the arrest and detention of one of their colleagues at Nalufenya police station in Jinja.
The arrest of Dr. Charles Barungi came after he operated a patient who passed away in Jinja hospital theatre on Friday, July 3.
The doctor was arrested by the Police following an outcry by the relatives of the patient who claimed that the doctor solicited a bribe of UGX 700,000 from Sulah Nsubuga, the father of the deceased, Sharita Nakato before agreeing to operate.
Dr. Michael Osinde, Jinja hospital director, said this morning they would not return to duty until their colleague Dr. Charles Barungi is released and the political leaders in Jinja come up and apologize to the medical staff at Jinja hospital over the way they handled the situation at Jinja hospital.
Politicians led by LC 5 Chairman Fred Ngobi Gume stormed the hospital forcing the medical superintendent Dr. Michael Osinde, to produce Dr. Charles Barungi, for arrest and accused the entire hospital administration of negligence.
The strike has affected all wards at Jinja hospital where patients have been left to treat themselves.
Nuliat Nantogo, from Mpummudde village came to Jinja hospital maternal ward eight yesterday morning, but the doctors insisted they would not help her give birth.
At 5pm yesterday evening Nuliat Nantogo, gave birth at Jinja hospital ward eight compound with the help of her husband Thomas Kubi.
Thomas Kubi, says when his wife experienced labor pains, and could not walk back into ward eight, he intervened and helped her to give birth to a baby girl last evening. He also cut the umbilical cord of the baby and tied it without the help of any medical personnel.
Over 40 women are at ward seven and eight with pre and post birth complications. Many have given birth but are still bleeding, while some are experiencing labor pains. None of the patients or children have died so far.
Intern doctors who came to the hospital this morning were forced to go back after no senior doctor was present to supervise them.
Meanwhile patients are left without any medication, but they fear to leave the hospital wards because their files have been with held by the medical personnel.
Moses Musumami, has been left lying at ward nine with a broken limb. He was admitted last night after he got an accident. He has not received any treatment.
A meeting between Jinja district leadership and the medical personnel at Jinja hospital has been arranged to forge amicable solutions towards ending the strike.
Fred Ngobi Gume, Jinja district Chairman, has reached the hospital but was not able to convince the doctors to get back to work. He says the meeting will yield good results.
