A month-long power outage at Asuret Health Centre III in Soroti District has plunged the facility into crisis, severely affecting night operations and emergency medical services. The health center relies on solar power, but the system shuts down around 8 PM, forcing nurses and midwives to rely on torches for critical procedures, including childbirth.
Midwives Alice Ayoo, Rebecca Mpotogera, and Sarah Ikiror have been struggling to keep the facility operational despite the blackout. Reports indicate they have performed over twenty deliveries by torchlight since the outage began, leaving patients in fear for their safety.
In an effort to highlight the worsening situation, Midwife Sarah Ikiror raised the issue on the Soroti District Forum, drawing widespread attention to the crisis.
However, instead of urgent intervention, Ikiror faced backlash. Lab Assistant Moses Asimwe, a member of the facility’s management, visited the health center at 1 AM on Monday and confronted Ikiror, angrily questioning her decision to report the power issues publicly.
A video circulating on WhatsApp forums shows Asimwe aggressively asking, “Did any woman die because we don’t have power?”
Witnesses, including patient John Eweru, who had arrived at the facility with his pregnant wife, Penina Rose Amulen, confirmed the distressing confrontation. Eweru described the facility in darkness, dimly lit by weak solar lights, as Asimwe confronted Ikiror for exposing the crisis.
Christine Ikiru, another patient, described how nurses struggle with inadequate light, often resorting to torches during emergencies. Elizabeth Arionget, a patient attendant, shared how she assisted a midwife with a torch during a delivery, while Amulen recounted how her grandmother held a torch for the midwife during childbirth.
Despite repeated complaints to the district, no action has been taken. Soroti District Health Officer Charles Okhadi stated that funds had already been allocated to the facility to address the issue, but it remains unresolved. Facility administrators have been unreachable for comment.
As the crisis drags on, midwives and patients continue to bear the brunt of the power outage, raising concerns about maternal and infant safety at the facility.
