The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | A female minor has sued St Francis Hospital, Nsambya, for negligently causing permanent blindness to her by failing to detect sight complications at the time of her birth. She is seeking a compensation of 120 million Shillings from the hospital, managed under Kampala Archdiocese.
The girl contends that Nsambya Hospital undertook to provide medical treatment and advice to her mother, before her birth in February 2018. But, according to the plaint, she was born Prematurely at 27 weeks and incubated for two months by the Hospital’s medical personnel.
She adds that at the time of her discharge on April 23, 2018, her parents were advised to go for eye screening at Mengo Hospital. But according to her parents, Tonny Serremba and Susan Nakawungu, they were never informed that the premature had developed Retinopathy of prematurity, a potentially avoidable cause of blindness in premature babies.
They add that at Mengo Hospital, they were informed that the child’s condition had advanced beyond the stages where it could be rectified with corrective treatments like laser surgery. The Doctors advised that sight screening should have been within three weeks after the premature birth.
The plaint adds that the parents, explored other options to help the child regain her sight by visiting Dr Agarwal’s Eye Hospital from where they were referred to LV Prasad Eye Institute in India. However, at both facilities, it was emphasized that diagnosis had been delayed.
An Indian Doctor allegedly told them that the condition should have been handled within a month of incubation in order to preserve the potentially good vision, preterm babies are born with. They now want a declaration that St Francis Hospital’s failure to disclose to them the condition in which their Child was is a violation of her right to health.
The Deputy Registrar Civil Division of High Court has summoned Kampala Archdiocese trading as St Francis Hospital Nsambya to file its Defense in the matter within 15 days before it’s fixed for hearing.
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