New Neonatal Facility Boosts Premature Baby Survival Hopes in Ibanda

The opening of a dedicated neonatal facility at Uganda Martyrs Hospital in Ibanda Municipality marks a significant advancement in local healthcare, offering renewed hope for the survival of premature babies. Previously, such critically ill infants had to be transferred to Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, a journey fraught with risk, often resulting in tragic outcomes before reaching specialized care.

Dr. Gothaldo Tumubugane, the hospital’s officer-in-charge, highlighted the facility’s previous limitations, stating, “We have always been overwhelmed by referrals of premature babies… yet we did not have the capacity to handle them.” The unit often operated with just a single incubator, struggling to cope with the influx of critical cases from Ibanda and surrounding districts.

This situation has been transformed by a substantial donation from the Rotary Club of Ibanda. The club invested approximately Shs190 million in upgrading the facility, which included procuring essential medical equipment and training healthcare staff. “Among the equipment delivered are incubators, a continuous positive airway pressure machine, beds, and phototherapy machines,” explained Mr. Kenan Akantorana, president of the Rotary Club, detailing their concern over infant mortality due to inadequate local facilities.

With the new equipment and expanded capacity, Dr. Tumubugane expressed confidence that the facility will now “significantly improve the survival chances of premature babies.” The support aims to alleviate the challenges posed by limited funding and a small bed capacity, enabling the hospital to save more vulnerable lives.

Rotary Club representatives indicated plans to extend similar improvements to other health centers within the district, starting with Kihani Health Centre II, to reduce transport costs and other burdens for parents seeking specialized neonatal care. This initiative is expected to play a crucial role in reducing child mortality rates in Ibanda Municipality and the wider district. The availability of this first-of-its-kind facility is a welcome development, promising better health outcomes for the youngest and most vulnerable.

Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/neonatal-facility-gives-hope-to-ibanda-locals-5483066