PALLISA: Police in Pallisa District have arrested a 66-year-old traditional birth attendant in whose hands a pregnant mother and her baby died Friday August 4, 2023.
The suspect has been named as Stella Adiye a renowned traditional birth attendant in Meito Village, Pallisa district and the deceased as Isabel Khamiyat, 22, a mother of two and resident of Obutet village, Obutet Sub-County.
SP Immaculate Alaso, Bukedi North Regional Police Spokesperson said the suspect is detained at Pallisa Central Police Station to aid with the ongoing police investigation.
“We registered a case of rush and neglect causing death. It’s alleged that on August 4, 2023, the deceased developed labour pain and was rushed to the home of Ms Stella Adiye by her husband to deliver the baby. While there, her health condition deteriorated and she eventually passed on,” SP Alaso said in a police statement.
Preliminary investigations conducted by the police revealed that the deceased had a previous history of undergoing a caesarean section during her previous childbirth.
The body of the deceased was transported to Pallisa Hospital mortuary for examination and by press time on Saturday, the results of the examination were still pending.
In rural Uganda, women, especially those facing high levels of poverty, often turn to traditional birth attendants for childbirth assistance, as indicated by government data. However, this case sheds light on the potential risks involved in such practices.
SP Alaso said police will undertake a thorough investigation to ascertain the circumstances leading to the unfortunate deaths of Isabel Khamiyat and her baby.
