Mbale clinic found with hospital oxygen cylinder, closed

Mbale, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Mbale District Task Force has closed a private clinic which was found with a 50litre oxygen cylinder has been closed.

On Wednesday Police arrested Alex Nyongesa, the director of Health for Life General Medical Clinic and Laboratory  and his staff Job Cherotich for allegedly stealing oxygen cylinders from Mbale Regional Referral Hospital.

Nyongesa is a clinician in Mbale Referral Hospital.

The Clinic found in Nkoma ward, Northern Division in Mbale City has now been closed by a resolution from the Mbale task force meeting that was held on Friday.

According to the task force members, the clinic has been closed to allow investigations in the theft of the oxygen cylinders to flow smoothly. Some members said that there are several complaints of Nyongesa sneaking out patients from the hospital to his clinic where he (mis)manages them from and that the patients end up dying there.

Asumin Nasike, the Mbale Resident District Commissioner ordered for the closure of the clinic saying that they have had several allegations about the poor operations of the clinic.

Ayubu Madoi, the Mbale District Assistant Health Officer-whose office oversees the operations of private clinics in the district, said during the closure of the clinic that they take covid-19 cases which are in critical condition who end up dying.

He said that the oxygen cylinder sneaked from the Mbale hospital was brought in the clinic to manage covid-19 patients mainly those who are sneaked out of the Mbale Hospital adding that the clinic will remain closed until investigations are complete.

Locals neighboring the clinic welcomed the decision by the health team to close the facility.

One resident who only identified herself as Nagudi said that the clinic had turned into a death trap saying that at least everyday, one dead body is brought of the clinic.

She said that gasping people are brought at the facility through the clinic ambulance and that some of them die on arrival.

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