Health ministry probes woman's death during childbirth at private facility
Julius Ahangaana, the husband to the deceased, said his wife (Twinomugisha) spent over four hours in labour and he believed the health workers failed to intervene in time to save her life.
Minister of State for Health Dr Charles Ayume and other officials at People's Medical Hospital facility. (Photo by Nicholas Kajoba)
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The Ministry of Health has launched investigations into the death of a mother during childbirth at a private health facility, People’s Medical Hospital, located along Gayaza road in Wakiso district.
The minister of state in charge of Primary Health Care, Dr. Charles Ayume, led a team of Uganda Medical and Dental Practitioners Council (UMDPC) members on a fact-finding mission at the hospital today (August 25).
The probe follows the death of Judith Twinomugisha, 36, who passed away after undergoing a surgical delivery procedure at the facility on August 20. This was after family members and relatives raised concern that her death may have resulted from negligence by health workers at the facility.
According to Ainebyoona, the team accompanying the minister included the Commissioner in charge of Reproductive and Maternal Health, Dr. Richard Mugahi, the Deputy Registrar of UMDPC and a team of Inspectors and Consultants.
“The UMDPC is undertaking investigations into the maternal death of a woman at People’s medical hospital, and today, minister Ayume alongside the council members visited the facility on a fact-finding mission,” Ainebyoona said.
The director and founder of People’s Medical Hospital, Dr. Frank Ndugga, acknowledged that the health ministry team and UMDPC members visited the hospital facility earlier today.
Ndugga said he could not divulge more information because professionally they have to protect the privacy of their patients.
Julius Ahangaana, the husband to the deceased, said his wife (Twinomugisha) spent over four hours in labour and he believed the health workers failed to intervene in time to save her life.
“My wife experienced severe pain during an operation because she was not adequately anaesthetised. She bled a lot after her operation, and by the time I reached the hospital, she was being taken to ICU (Intensive Care Unit). I believe the health workers did not intervene enough to save her life,” Ahangaana told mourners at St. John’s Bugongi Church of Uganda during the funeral service.
Twinomugisha was buried on Saturday in Bugongi village, Kabale district. She left behind three children, including the baby she gave birth to before her death.