Most scientific technological appliances used in the day- to- day operations in science sectors in the country namely, health, agriculture, information communication technology and energy, among others, are imported.
However, Uganda National Council for Science and Technology which is mandated with regulating research related to scientific innovations has now put scientists to task not only to carry out research for documentation but come up with innovations which in the end will help the general public in one way or the other.
Dr Chris Nsamba, a Ugandan space scientist, took up the initiative to invent an incubator which he believes will be useful for saving lives of premature babies delivered in this country.
Growing need
Premature births contribute 25 per cent which is 13 births per 1,000 live births of all neonatal deaths in the country, putting Uganda in the 28th position worldwide with the highest preterm deaths. According to a recent Unicef report, Uganda loses 45,000 newborns annually.
Dr Nsamba, 30, is a fellow at African Space Research Programme, an sssociation of scientists and well-wishers promoting space science in Uganda.
While exhibiting the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Incubator (NICUI) during a high level meeting organised by UNCST in Kampala for scientists to showcase their scientific innovations recently, Dr Nsamba explained that the idea of developing this machine was as a result of the overwhelming number of pre-mature babies dying in hospitals in Uganda due to lack of incubators.
Dr Nsamba is also trying to develop an anti-gravity machine, which will not allow planes to crash easily.
Right now, his focus is on the NICUI which he says he developed in six months putting together requirements; ranging from the international guidelines to follow when developing such equipment.
A scientist involved in developing NICUI equipment must observe guidelines such as making sure the temperature is between 37 to 38 degrees Celsius and the humidity is supposed to be between 50 and 100 degrees Celsius.
There are NICUI’s that can be monitored manually but according to Dr Nsamba, the automated type like the one he has developed is better because whatever goes on with the baby can be shown on the computer.
In case of water challenges in water flow which is used in the process of heating the equipment, this can be shown on the computer and refilling of water can be done manually.
Costs
Dr Nsamba incurred $7,000 (about Shs20m) in developing the equipment which has been kept in their stores in Ntinda since 2014. It was tested by about three private hospitals where a baby was placed in the gadget to see if it works well.
He has tried to market it to the government but received no positive results and now he is going to donate it to a hospital of interest free of charge in a bid to save lives of babies produced prematurely.
The cost price of the equipment is worthy $8,000 (about Shs24m) and warrant period guaranteed to any user is three years and its life span is about 50 years.
Reactions
Dr Sabrina Kitaka, a paediatrician at Mulago hospital welcomed the idea of Ugandan scientists getting involved in innovating incubators to save lives of children delivered prenatally.
This is because much as the Ministry of Health stocks NICUI which are mainly imported from other countries, it is mainly available in Mulago hospitals and other private hospitals within the city but health centres in various parts of country lack this service.
Growing need
Dr Kitaka said such innovations will reduce the mortality rate. “The number of mothers giving birth to premature babies in the health centres across the country is overwhelming and these babies end up dying due to lack of incubation facilities.”
I am glad that we have our own scientists who are capable of developing such equipment and they need to be empowered to avoid the syndrome of importing them from other countries at an increased cost,” Kitaka said.
She further explained that an ordinary imported incubator costs about $1,000 (adbout Shs3.5m) while a sophisticated one sould up to 10 times that cost.
She advised Dr Nsambu to collaborate with scientific organs such as UNCST and Uganda Industrial Research Institute in order to come up products which are good and for the health sector as long as they are approved by these organisations.
Take from stakeholders
The deputy executive Secretary UNCST Dr Maxwell Otim Onapa noted that advancement in technologies in most countries in the world has led to economic progress and Uganda should not be left behind.
To him, it is important for the public to know that science is not all about carrying out research in the Laboratory but innovations such as the NICUI which is geared towards saving lives of infant babies must be made known to the public through such exhibitions.
Since the government is mandated to provide funds for scientists to carry out research and innovation through UNCST, it is therefore prudent to showcase their scientific innovations some of which may end up providing employment to the youth if put to proper use.
Complications associated with premature births have become the leading single killer of children under five, outpacing pneumonia and claiming 3,000 lives every day in what has been described as “one of the greatest health challenges of the 21st Century”, a study published in the medical journal the Lancet said.
Having a baby in neonatal care is naturally worrying for parents and every effort should be made to ensure that you receive the information, communication and support that you need. Not all hospitals provide specialist neonatal services, so it may be necessary to transfer your baby to another hospital.
Babies who are very small are nursed in incubators rather than cots, to keep them warm. You can still have a lot of contact with your baby. Some incubators have open tops, but if your baby’s incubator doesn’t have, you can put your hands through the holes in the side of the incubator to stroke and touch your baby.
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