A baby born on New Year’s day suffocated to death at Arua regional referral hospital due to lack of oxygen.
Alice Abiria 22, a resident of Eruba village, Vurra county in Arua district gave birth to a baby boy, but shortly after, the baby passed on because the hospital didn’t have enough oxygen to save the baby’s life.
The problem was worsened by the fact that Arua hospital only has one anaesthetist, who, at the time of the birth was not at the hospital. Attempts to trace the officer to come and rescue the baby failed.
Joyce Anite, the midwife in charge of the maternity ward, says Abiria was delayed at a health centre in Vurra after her labour started before being referred to Kuluva hospital and finally to Arua hospital where she was delivered through caesarean.
“When she was operated, the child had greenish pale skin and had already suffered severe lack of oxygen. The situation became further complicated because of the absence of the anaesthetist,” said Anite.
Abiria is still admitted at the hospital while the body of the baby was handed over to the relatives for burial in Eruba.
Anite added that on New Year’s day, 13 deliveries were registered at Arua hospital of which 11 were through vaginal birth while two were caesarean with one recorded death. Three other deliveries were recorded at Oli health centre four and three at Kuluva hospital.