The recent conviction and sentence of Rosemary Namubiru to 3 years of imprisonment could have far reaching implications on the operations of Nurses and health service delivery in the country.

Namubiru who is a nurse was accused of pricking a baby with a cannula that had pricked her hand, well knowing that she was HIV positive was found guilty of professional negligence under section 171 of the penal code.

Condemning the court ruling, the Uganda Nurses and Midwives Union has warned that this has caused fear among nurses who are now going to stick to nursing duties.

The national Treasurer at the Uganda Nurses and Midwives Union Joyce Lucy Atim said that now with the criminalizing medical practice errors nurses should avoid executing some medical procedures.

The President of the Uganda Nurses and Midwives Union Janet Obuni urges that since Nambiru had no intention to infect the baby with the virus, the case of medical practice error should have been referred back to the Union for professional handling based on the ethics and code of conduct.

Obuni stressed that Nambiru’s conviction has serious implication to HIV positive health workers and the entire community that access health facilities.

Meanwhile the Uganda Nurses and Midwives union has disassociated itself from Edith Nassuna claiming to be the general secretary of the union. Nassuna came out in the media to condemning Nambiru.