State House Health Monitoring Unit has cleared Mubende Regional Referral Hospital of kidney theft allegations.
According to Dr. Warren Namara, the Director of Unit-SHMU, this follows investigations into allegations that the hospital had illegally removed a kidney from Peragiya Muragijemana, 20, a resident of Lwemiggo village in Mubende district.
Muragijemana had gone for an operation to remove the uterus due to persistent bleeding.
The unit found out that Muragijemana was born without the right kidney, a condition referred to as Renal Agenesis in medical circles.
Dr. Namara said examinations found only one scar of the lower abdominal incision, which was done to remove the patient’s uterus.
This is the full statement:
Background
HMU received media reports in the Daily Monitor published on 26th May 2022 titled
“Mubende Hospital on the spot over missing kidney” which alleged that a 20 year old
Postnatal mother Ms Mulajijimaana Peragiya, a resident of Lwemiggo Village, Kabyuuma Parish, Kalonga Sub-county in Mubende District, went to Mubende Regional Referral Hospital for treatment, it is alleged she lost her kidney during surgery.
She reported to the Hospital with severe bleeding due to retained placenta having delivered from a Traditional Birth Attendant. The family and the patient consented to an operation to remove the Uterus to stop the bleeding.
A team led by Dr. Stephen Ataro Ayella, a Clinical Epidemiologist and an Assistant Director at HMU, was sent to investigate the matter.
HMIJ established that Police had started investigations but were hampered by lack of technical expertise that HMCJ rendered.
—The Surgery:
The patient was admitted on 24th April 2022 at 23:40 hours after delivery with help of a Traditional Birth Attendant and was bleeding profusely form some nearby Health facility.
It was established that an IV cannula was put in by a nearby HCII (Kibyamirizi). On inquiries with the HCII they denied having seen the patient and indeed there were no records of her in their books, perhaps the Cannula was put in a private clinic that they refused to disclose.
• At 23:45 after a thorough assessment, a subtotal hysterotomy was done. The patient was discharged on 29th April 2022 (4 days after surgery) and advised to return for review on 11th May 2022.
Post-Surgery
• Patient then reported to Mubende Imaging Centre with abdominal pain, a scan was carried out on 4th May 2022. The results of this scan showed the right kidney was not visualized and the radiographer recommended them to go for further tests in Kampala.
• They however got advice to get further inquiries into the matter from the opinion leader. The family also reported that they had met some Lawyers who read the story and were interested in taking on legal suits in regards to this matter.
• On 13th May 2022 a team of five people who introduced themselves as Journalists came to the Senior Hospital Administrator and demanded that they wanted to run a story on the media on the alleged absence of the kidney as per the scan report done 10 days after the operation.
• They were advised to wait as treatment and investigation was still going on very same day, the hospital met with the patient and two male relatives and explained to the occurrence Of this abnormality found on the scan and advised them to go for further check-up in Kampala especially by a Urologist and do further tests.
• On 26th May 2022, the Daily Monitor run a story on the missing Kidney of a patient in Mubende Hospital. On same day, the Hospital Director wrote a letter to the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health explaining this allegation attaching all treatment and test records while the patient was hospitalized.
Preliminary Findings
On 26th May 2022 following the Newspaper headlines, Dr. Alex Andema, the Hospital Director wrote to the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health ref MRH/213/6 giving clarification on the allegations, findings during the surgery done and recommended further investigations to be done.
On 30th May 2022 as further investigations into this matter were on going, the Hospital Director arranged a referral for investigation for the Patient/Victim to Mulago National Referral Hospital, accompanied by the family, the Police Investigating Officer (10) and Obstetrician and Gynecologist.
Abdominal Computerised Tomography (CT) was done by the Radiologist Dr. Sharif Kikomeko and a report is provided.
Post Story Findings and CT Urogram Report
The Scan revealed no Kidney tissue on the right renal bed and an enlarged left kidney.
HMU Intervention
HMU took on the Investigations that Police had already started.
Additional statements from the Hospital staff were taken o Met with the patient and some family members to discuss the findings of the Report from Mulago NRH
Also, she was examined thoroughly to rule out any cut or incision on the abdomen other than the surgical incision scar on the lower abdomen. The examination found no other scar other than the lower abdomen surgical commonly known as “bikini” (pfannestiel) incision.
Met also district authorities and Hospital administrators to discuss and conclude the matter o Also, sought expert opinion from Dr. Frank Asiimwe Rubabinda a Consultant Urologist and Kidney Transplant Surgeon.
Conclusions/ Way Forward:
The current hype about organ harvest and trade is much more of a sensation than a reality. Hitech facilities and theatres in addition to highly skilled professionals is needed for any organ transplant.
Reporters may consider avoiding such sensation and instead seek professional answers from relevant bodies.
We plan to have further dialogue with the family and have dissemination meetings with the authorities in the district to understand the science behind the findings and correct the misinformation.
We will conduct a dialogue meeting (baraza) with the Community to explain this particular case and rebuild trust of the Public in our Hospitals.