‘Wrong transfusion killed MP’s wife’
Feb 25, 2010
THE wife of East African Legislative Assembly member, Bernard Mulengani, died of a blood mismatch and not lack of blood at Mulago Hospital, Parliament heard yesterday.
By Joyce Namutebi
and Catherine Bekunda
THE wife of East African Legislative Assembly member, Bernard Mulengani, died of a blood mismatch and not lack of blood at Mulago Hospital, Parliament heard yesterday.
Primary health care state minister James Kakooza said the blood was obtained from another health centre, which he did not name. He said the transfusion was carried out at Mulago Hospital.
Gloria Kyasimire Mulengani died on February 7 shortly after the transfusion. Kakooza explained that the ministry was still investigating the matter and would make a report thereafter.
He was yesterday responding to statements by some MPs that Mulengani’s wife died due to a shortage of blood at the national referral hospital.
The lawmakers were reacting to concerns raised by Stephen Tashobya (NRM) over the shortage of blood in national hospitals and health centres countrywide.
Tashobya noted that there was increasing need for blood for transfusion.
Kakooza admitted that there was shortage of blood in the rainy months of November and December due to rampant cases of malaria that overwhelmed the blood bank.
He said at the time, schools, which are the chief blood donors, were on holiday.
Kakooza said the ministry had embarked on a countrywide blood donation exercise.
He stressed that blood in hospitals is free and warned that those who sell it would be punished.
Kakooza said the ministry would use measures such as indoor residual spraying, vector control methods and DDT to curb malaria. He added that by June, all health centres would have drugs.
The minister’s remarks were prompted by the MPs who accused district officials of failure to pick drugs from the National Medical Stores, leading to a shortage of drugs in hospitals and health centres.
Tashobya said the country requires a minimum of 200,000 units of blood per year but there was a deficit of 50,000 units in what is collected. He said sh18b would be required to collect 200,000 units of blood.
Tashobya said the Uganda Transfusion Services was only given sh3.1b, of which sh1b was for administration, leaving sh1.9b for blood collection.
He said there were reports that blood was being sold in hospitals even when it is donated free of charge.
The MPs appealed to the Government to urgently provide money for the blood collection exercise in order to address the shortage.
Michael Mabikke (Independent) said the majority of Ugandans were poor and malnourished and cannot donate blood.
Jim Muhwezi wondered why the Government was not using DDT in the fight against malaria.
Elijah Okupa (FDC) made a shocking revelation that used condoms were found in one of the clinics in Soroti but no explanation had been provided.
and Catherine Bekunda
THE wife of East African Legislative Assembly member, Bernard Mulengani, died of a blood mismatch and not lack of blood at Mulago Hospital, Parliament heard yesterday.
Primary health care state minister James Kakooza said the blood was obtained from another health centre, which he did not name. He said the transfusion was carried out at Mulago Hospital.
Gloria Kyasimire Mulengani died on February 7 shortly after the transfusion. Kakooza explained that the ministry was still investigating the matter and would make a report thereafter.
He was yesterday responding to statements by some MPs that Mulengani’s wife died due to a shortage of blood at the national referral hospital.
The lawmakers were reacting to concerns raised by Stephen Tashobya (NRM) over the shortage of blood in national hospitals and health centres countrywide.
Tashobya noted that there was increasing need for blood for transfusion.
Kakooza admitted that there was shortage of blood in the rainy months of November and December due to rampant cases of malaria that overwhelmed the blood bank.
He said at the time, schools, which are the chief blood donors, were on holiday.
Kakooza said the ministry had embarked on a countrywide blood donation exercise.
He stressed that blood in hospitals is free and warned that those who sell it would be punished.
Kakooza said the ministry would use measures such as indoor residual spraying, vector control methods and DDT to curb malaria. He added that by June, all health centres would have drugs.
The minister’s remarks were prompted by the MPs who accused district officials of failure to pick drugs from the National Medical Stores, leading to a shortage of drugs in hospitals and health centres.
Tashobya said the country requires a minimum of 200,000 units of blood per year but there was a deficit of 50,000 units in what is collected. He said sh18b would be required to collect 200,000 units of blood.
Tashobya said the Uganda Transfusion Services was only given sh3.1b, of which sh1b was for administration, leaving sh1.9b for blood collection.
He said there were reports that blood was being sold in hospitals even when it is donated free of charge.
The MPs appealed to the Government to urgently provide money for the blood collection exercise in order to address the shortage.
Michael Mabikke (Independent) said the majority of Ugandans were poor and malnourished and cannot donate blood.
Jim Muhwezi wondered why the Government was not using DDT in the fight against malaria.
Elijah Okupa (FDC) made a shocking revelation that used condoms were found in one of the clinics in Soroti but no explanation had been provided.