Kirehe Hospital refutes claims that a newborn died after falling off hospital bed

Editor,THE MANAGEMENT of Kirehe District Hospital (KDH) would like to refute the content of the article, “Newborn dies after falling off hospital bed”, published in The New Times edition of July 17, 2013, indicating that a baby who was born at our hospital on July 10, 2013 (11:20 am) died as a result of negligence from KDH staff.At the time of birth, the baby was examined and showed no signs of any complications. On the following day, July 11, 2013, both the mother, Immaculée Muteteri, and her baby were discharged from the hospital and they were all in good condition.However, on July 13, 2013 at 2am, Muteteri brought the baby again to the hospital where she had been referred to by Kirehe Health Centre. The doctors who received her revealed that the baby was suffering from respiratory chest distress, convulsions and was in a coma. They provided assisted ventilation to provide oxygen but in vain.They did all the best to save the baby, but unfortunately, he passed away thirty minutes after being admitted.Doctors confirmed and ruled out trauma. According to the hospital management, this is an indication that the head was normal, consequently refuting allegations that the baby died as a result of a swelling head, as opposed to what the bereaved mother announced and subsequently reported by different media.This newspaper had reported that the mother told The New Times that the baby had been left on his cot for over an hour and that the cot’s side rails were not locked on one side, while the only nurse who was attending to her was “busy on a computer.” The mother said that the baby slipped off the cot and fell, head first, which prompted her to make an alarm.Investigations are underway and the Ministry of Health will follow up on the up on the case. Thank you.Kirehe District Hospital (Management)Editor – We would like to remind our readers that The New Times tried several times to contact Dr Jean Nepo Uwiringiyemungu, the hospital director, but neither did he answer nor return our calls.

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Kirehe Hospital refutes claims that a newborn died after falling off hospital bed