Africa-Press – Uganda. The Center for Health, Human Rights and Development (CEHURD), in collaboration with Miriam Nampeera, has petitioned the Uganda Medical and Dental Practitioners Council (UMDPC) over alleged medical negligence at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital, which they claim resulted in the death of her one-year-and-nine-month-old son, Amanya Ezekiel Treasure.
The petition, filed on Wednesday, accuses the hospital’s medical staff of failing to conduct a proper clinical assessment or provide timely medical care after the child was admitted on May 2, 2024. He died the following day.
According to CEHURD, Amanya was initially diagnosed with tonsillitis at a local clinic on May 1. When his condition worsened, he was transferred to the acute care ward at Gulu hospital.
However, CEHURD alleges that no physical examination or diagnostic tests were conducted. Although the mother purchased all prescribed medications, her son’s condition deteriorated rapidly.
“By 11:00 p.m., the child began vomiting blood and showed signs of respiratory distress. These life-threatening symptoms were either ignored or inadequately addressed by hospital staff,” the complaint reads.
Nampeera, the grieving mother, said she trusted the health system to provide appropriate care. “Even if I was a student then, I did my best not to self-medicate but to take my child to the authorities, who I expected to examine and treat him. I was disappointed. I still feel the pain. I need justice for my child,” she said.
CEHURD is urging the Uganda Medical and Dental Practitioners Council to hold the medical director of Gulu Regional Referral Hospital accountable for failing to supervise his team.
The organisation is also calling for disciplinary action against the staff involved in the alleged professional misconduct. Additionally, CEHURD wants the Council to acknowledge the violation of the rights of both the mother and the child.
Finally, it is demanding a comprehensive audit of pediatric services at the hospital, along with the implementation of necessary reforms.
Esther Dhafa, Program Officer at CEHURD’s Strategic Litigation Programme, said the case reflects systemic gaps in Uganda’s public health care system.
“What happened to baby Amanya is deeply tragic, but sadly not unique. This case exposes persistent failures in medical accountability and patient care. We are urging the Council to take decisive action not just to deliver justice for this family, but to reinforce that such negligence has consequences,” said Dhafa.
CEHURD lawyer Jane Kibira Namaganda added, “It is unfortunate that despite constitutional guarantees, Nampeera must live with the pain of losing a child due to a system that failed her.”
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