Should we go to local birth attendants?
Jul 18, 2010
READING the WOMAN pullout in The New Vision of July 13 left my heart broken. The issue published the saddening tales of women who have lost their lives during pregnancy at the hands of doctors! What kind of professionals are these doctors?
EDITOR—READING the WOMAN pullout in The New Vision of July 13 left my heart broken. The issue published the saddening tales of women who have lost their lives during pregnancy at the hands of doctors! What kind of professionals are these doctors?
This ironically in happens in big expensive hospitals! I am sure these are no the first incidents and they will not be the last if security operatives do not intervene. Lives are at stake!
The doctors that take up the responsibility of following expectant mothers opt out of their roles once they sign for their leave! I understand that leave is taken to ease stress and refresh the body from the routine calendar.
However, it would be rational for doctors on leave to still follow up the cases that they leave unfinished. On the contrary, they only come after endless calls and when their patients are at the point of death! Some, like The New Vision indicated, were reluctant to report back to their places of work to check on their patients.
The story ended with the two expectant mothers dying. The story left me grieving and imagining the stress and agony the husbands suffered.
I therefore call upon the Police to establish a division where such cases of negligence can be filed and responsible doctors punished.
I suggest that the Ministry of Health should permit some traditional birth attendants to carry out midwifery services. It has been proved, like Nakachwa’s story reveals, that some actually do it better and can interact closely with expectant mothers.
Some desperate people will go to some of these birth attendants even if it is illegal. It is better than risking with part-time doctors who do not value their patients’ lives.
Although they behave so unprofessionally, the charges of some of these “reputable†hospitals are unbelievable! I pray the bereaved families receive justice.
It may not bring back their loved ones but it will check this sheer negligence and dismal behaviour of our perceived professionals in health!
Allan Ssempebwa Kyobe
Makerere University
This ironically in happens in big expensive hospitals! I am sure these are no the first incidents and they will not be the last if security operatives do not intervene. Lives are at stake!
The doctors that take up the responsibility of following expectant mothers opt out of their roles once they sign for their leave! I understand that leave is taken to ease stress and refresh the body from the routine calendar.
However, it would be rational for doctors on leave to still follow up the cases that they leave unfinished. On the contrary, they only come after endless calls and when their patients are at the point of death! Some, like The New Vision indicated, were reluctant to report back to their places of work to check on their patients.
The story ended with the two expectant mothers dying. The story left me grieving and imagining the stress and agony the husbands suffered.
I therefore call upon the Police to establish a division where such cases of negligence can be filed and responsible doctors punished.
I suggest that the Ministry of Health should permit some traditional birth attendants to carry out midwifery services. It has been proved, like Nakachwa’s story reveals, that some actually do it better and can interact closely with expectant mothers.
Some desperate people will go to some of these birth attendants even if it is illegal. It is better than risking with part-time doctors who do not value their patients’ lives.
Although they behave so unprofessionally, the charges of some of these “reputable†hospitals are unbelievable! I pray the bereaved families receive justice.
It may not bring back their loved ones but it will check this sheer negligence and dismal behaviour of our perceived professionals in health!
Allan Ssempebwa Kyobe
Makerere University