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🇺🇬 Uganda /Health & Science

Rukoki Hospital Maternity Ward Struggles as Over 600 Mothers Deliver Each Month

From AllAfrica Uganda · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Rukoki General Hospital in Uganda's Kasese District faces severe overcrowding in its maternity ward, handling over 600 deliveries monthly against a capacity for 20.
  • The congestion is exacerbated by mothers requiring extended stays post-delivery, leaving insufficient space for new arrivals.
  • A stalled construction project for a new, larger maternity ward, initiated in 2024, has left the hospital struggling to meet the growing demand.

Rukoki General Hospital in Uganda's Kasese District is grappling with an overwhelming surge in maternity cases, with its ward designed for approximately 20 mothers now accommodating more than 600 deliveries each month. Hospital administrator Dan Mbahimba stated that the facility manages at least 20 deliveries daily, placing immense strain on the limited space.

We are delivering at least 20 mothers every day.

— Dan MbahimbaRukoki Hospital administrator, highlighting the daily delivery rate and the pressure on the facility.

The situation is further complicated by mothers who require extended hospital stays due to medical conditions or complications following delivery. Mbahimba explained that these prolonged admissions mean beds remain occupied, leaving new mothers with nowhere to rest. This forces some women to rest on the floor as healthcare workers struggle to manage the increasing patient load.

Some mothers have complications and have to remain admitted for a longer period. This means that when new mothers come, the beds are still occupied.

— Dan MbahimbaRukoki Hospital administrator, explaining the issue of prolonged admissions contributing to bed shortages.

Construction of a new maternity ward, intended to alleviate the pressure and increase capacity to around 100 mothers, began in 2024 with an investment of Shs1.2 billion. However, the project, managed by the UPDF Engineering Brigade, has been stalled for about a year. This delay has left the hospital reliant on its already overstretched facilities.

Once this new maternity ward is completed, it will help us a lot because it will accommodate about 100 mothers.

— Dan MbahimbaRukoki Hospital administrator, expressing hope for the new ward's capacity to ease the current strain.

District officials, including Kasese District LCV Chairperson Eriphazi Muhindi, have been actively advocating for the resumption of construction. They report being informed that government funds have been released and have engaged with relevant authorities to expedite the project. Despite these efforts, the hospital continues to operate under severe constraints, highlighting the urgent need for the new ward's completion to improve conditions for mothers and newborns.

We are reliably informed that government had already given the money. We sat as district leadership and presented our case, and both the commissioner and the honourable member of parliament promised to follow it up.

— Eriphazi MuhindiKasese District LCV Chairperson, discussing the status of funding and promises made regarding the stalled construction project.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by AllAfrica Uganda in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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