In collaboration with Connecticut Children’s Medical Centre & the University of Connecticut (USA), Nakasero Hospital launched the first Therapeutic Hypothermia Treatment Centre in Uganda at an event held on the hospital grounds.
The launch was graced by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Diana Atwine, as Chief Guest.
Other guests included the Chairman of the Board, Nakasero Hospital, Dr Ben Mbonye and the management team and staff of the hospital together with consultant doctors in the areas of Paediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynaecology from a number of hospitals.
This center caters to babies that have has Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (Birth Asphyxia) meaning that a number of babies that would otherwise be left helpless will now have access to treatment that can save their lives and also offer them a chance to lead a normal life.
There was also a training workshop conducted during this 2-day event primarily for the nursing staff through didactic lectures as well practical aspects of therapeutic hypothermia.
Birth asphyxia is among the leading causes of neonatal mortality in Uganda.
Therapeutic hypothermia significantly reduces mortality and neurodevelopmental disability in babies that have had hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (birth asphyxia).
A Therapeutic hypothermia center will open at Nakasero hospital starting October 2022.
The center will be equipped with the first servo-control therapeutic hypothermia devices in Uganda.
“We invited Pediatricians, Obstetricians, Pediatric Senior House Officers as well as nurses from both the private and public hospitals in Kampala including Mulago Hospital, Kawempe Hospital, Naguru Hospital, Nsambya Hospital, Mengo Hospital, and Rubaga Hospital. We believe that the training will equip the clinicians with knowledge on the treatment of Birth Asphyxia and we also hope that Therapeutic Hypothermia Treatment Centers can be established across the country,” said Dr. Dickson Tumusiime, Head Department Pediatrics and Child Health at Nakasero Hospital Limited.