“Mbarara regional referral hospital has only one Non Invasive Ventilation and it’s even faulty, that’s how I lost my Dad,” undisclosed source told Parrots UG.
Mbarara referral hospital is battling an acute shortage of Non Invasive Ventilations (NIV) to treat COVID-19 patients. The hospital has been grappling with this challenge for a long period, which has affected service delivery to residents.
An anonymous source who recently had a COVID-19 patient at the hospital told Parrot UG investigative team that the hospital has only one NIV in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and is in poor mechanical conditions.
“Mbarara regional referral hospital has only one Non Invasive Ventilation and it’s even faulty, that’s how I lost my Dad,” undisclosed source told Parrots UG.
Media recently reported that there is a leap growth on the number of corona virus patients in need of intensive care at the hospital something that has created fear the pressure could collapse the system leading to more deaths.
The Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) is the use of breathing support administered through a face mask, nasal mask, or a helmet. Air, usually with added oxygen, is given through the mask under positive pressure; generally the amount of pressure is alternated depending on whether someone is breathing in or out.
Dr. Celestine Barigye, the director Mbarara referral hospital was not available to give a comment by press time.
The shortage follow two incident reports on inadequate COVID-19 supplies in government hospitals such as personal protective Equipments, (PPEs), ICU beds to mention but a few.
Few days ago, Dr. Charles Kiggundu, a senior doctor at Kawempe Mulago hospital collapsed at work and was rushed to Mulago national referral where he met his death after a long period of waiting to get an ICU bed.
