Police probe woman’s death giving birth

Police and health authorities in Kakumiro District are investigating circumstances under which a mother and her baby died in the hands of a traditional birth attendant (TBA) on Sunday.

The deceased, identified as Faustina Namukisa, was a resident of Kyabeya Village in Nalweyo Town Council. 
Police have arrested the birth attendant.

Ms Mary Asumpta, the district assistant health officer-in-charge of child and maternal department, said Namukisa attended antenatal care at Nalweyo Health Centre III on September 29.

“She was advised to come back to the same facility for delivery. Instead, she opted to go to a traditional birth attendant,” she said.

Ms Asumpta said TBAs are not allowed to assist pregnant mothers in delivery because they are not qualified, but can only escort expectant mothers to health facilities.

The district police commander, Mr Edgar Kulayigye, said they charged the TBA with criminal negligence. “We are forwarding the file to the Resident State Attorney for perusal and further guidance,’’ Mr Kulayigye said.

The deceased’s brother, Mr Fred Babiito, said his sister bled profusely after giving birth, but the TBA declined to refer her to hospital.

The government outlawed TBAs in 2010, arguing they cannot handle haemorrhaging in women, which contributes to 42 per cent of maternal deaths.

Cases
Last year, another mother died in the hands of a TBA in Kiseke Village, Igayaza Town Council in Kakumiro.
According to the Ministry of Health’s reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health sharpened plan for Uganda 2016-2020, about 416,000 women annually are still not assisted by a skilled birth attendant.

Like many developing countries, Uganda has a high maternal mortality rate of 343 per 100,000 live births.