By our reporter
Mbale Regional Referral Hospital, a critical healthcare facility serving over 50 districts, is grappling with a dire crisis in its maternal health wing. Despite the overwhelming demand, the hospital operates with a single 10-foot surgery room that has only one bed for maternal operations. This alarming inadequacy has led to delays in emergency care, risking the lives of both mothers and infants.The maternity wing, which receives over 100 pregnant women or mothers in labor daily, lacks essential infrastructure. It has no waiting room or recovery area for patients who undergo surgery. Moreover, the surgery room itself has no washrooms, further compounding the challenges faced by patients and medical staff.Medics, despite their dedication, are overwhelmed by the shortage of equipment and space. In many emergencies, they are forced to place patients on a waiting list, delaying life-saving procedures. Tragically, these delays have led to preventable deaths, with some infants and mothers losing their lives before they can receive critical care.In comparison, other regional referral hospitals like those in Lira and Jinja are better equipped, offering a stark contrast to the dire state of Mbale’s maternal health services. This disparity has raised questions about resource allocation and prioritization.Local leaders and healthcare advocates are calling on the government for urgent intervention to address this critical situation. “Mbale Regional Referral Hospital serves a vast population, and its current maternal health setup is woefully inadequate,” one healthcare worker lamented.With maternal and infant mortality rates escalating in the region, it is imperative for the government to prioritize the expansion and equipping of Mbale’s maternity wing. The addition of more operating beds, recovery rooms, and basic amenities like washrooms could significantly improve outcomes for mothers and their newborns.The time to act is now. Failure to address these challenges could result in further preventable loss of life, exacerbating the already critical state of maternal health in the region.
