(Namayingo, Uganda) – A baby born with two heads at Hukeseho Health Centre III in Buyinja Sub-county, Namayingo District, has tragically died. The baby, delivered on Monday, passed away shortly after birth, bringing attention to the critical need for better support for health facilities across Uganda.
Sarah Awino, 19, arrived at the health centre around 11 a.m. on Monday. She reported backache and lower abdominal pain. Jane Okanya, the midwife who attended to Awino, found her in mild labor and conducted tests. Malaria was detected, and treatment began. By Tuesday, Awino’s labor pains intensified.
At approximately 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Awino was in active labor. The midwife continued monitoring her until 11 p.m., when she delivered a baby girl weighing 2.5 kg. However, the delivery revealed a rare and distressing condition: the baby had two heads. The second head, which was malformed and open, emerged after the first.
Despite efforts to resuscitate the baby, she died within five to ten minutes after birth. The second head contributed to severe oxygen loss, and the baby was born prematurely, a month earlier than expected.
Awino had been attending antenatal care but missed a crucial scan on July 30 due to financial issues. According to Okanya, this scan might have detected the abnormality earlier. She stressed the need for more government support to provide essential services such as ultrasounds, which could help detect such conditions and allow for better management of pregnancy.
Fred Wandera, the area councilor for Lwangosia Parish, was called to the health centre and was shocked by the unusual birth. The situation attracted local attention, but many were unable to view the baby due to restrictions.
Awino’s husband, Ogello Wabwire, 24, a boda boda rider, expressed his disbelief and sorrow. The baby has been laid to rest.
Dr. Tenywa Emmanuel, a pediatrician at Nalufenya Hospital in Jinja City, noted that such births are rare. He highlighted the importance of thorough antenatal history, including any potential impacts from medications or lifestyle factors, in understanding these cases.
Medical practitioners refer to similar cases as dicephalic parapagus, a rare form of conjoined twinning where two heads share one torso. Such cases, often termed “two-headed babies” in media, are usually spontaneous or linked to genetic abnormalities.
Summary of Baby’s Condition and Care
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Mother | Sarah Awino, 19 |
| Health Centre | Hukeseho Health Centre III, Buyinja Sub-county |
| Date of Delivery | August 5, 2024 |
| Baby’s Condition | Two heads, premature birth |
| Outcome | Baby died within five to ten minutes |
| Missed Antenatal Scan | July 30, 2024, due to financial constraints |
| Expert Commentary | Dr. Tenywa Emmanuel on rarity and causes |
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