Written By |
Mbale regional referral Hospital
Search
By Our Reporter
Mbale Regional Referral Hospital is facing a severe shortage of adequate bedding, with patients forced to use rotten mattresses and broken beds due to the facility's deteriorating conditions. These issues were brought to light during a recent inspection by the State House Health Monitoring Unit, which assessed the hospital's overall state.
Dr. Stephen Obbo, the Hospital Director, voiced serious concerns over the declining state of the facility, noting that the number of patients seeking treatment far exceeds its capacity.
"Many of our beds are broken, and most mattresses are in a deplorable condition, lacking proper covers," Dr. Obbo said. He warned that these unsanitary conditions put both patients and their caregivers at risk of contracting additional illnesses.
The most affected areas include the outpatient department (OPD), pediatrics, obstetrics, gynecology, and casualty wards. Mbale Regional Referral Hospital, a government-funded institution under Uganda's Ministry of Health, provides free general care and serves as a key referral center for over 4.6 million people across 16 districts. As one of Uganda's 13 regional referral hospitals, it also functions as a teaching hospital for Busitema University and offers internship opportunities for medical graduates.
Established in 1924 as a health center, the hospital has grown to a 450-bed capacity. However, it currently accommodates more than 500 patients, resulting in overcrowding and inadequate care.
Dr. Obbo highlighted the dire situation in the casualty ward, where some patients are forced to sleep on verandahs due to the lack of space and proper bedding. "In the children’s ward, many have to sleep on waiting benches or share beds, with two to four children sometimes squeezed into one bed," he explained.
Fred Mawanda, a patient attendant from Pallisa, shared his experience with New Vision. “We’ve been here for two days, and my daughter and I have been sleeping on a concrete bench because there are no available beds,” Mawanda said. The hospital's staffing shortage further exacerbates the situation. Dr. Obbo pointed out that the 169 nurses currently serving across 34 units are far below the required 200, leading to overwork and frequent back pain among staff due to prolonged standing and heavy lifting.
Recent inspection by the State House Health Monitoring Unit
The pediatric department, which admits between 1,000 and 1,500 critically ill children each month, is particularly overcrowded.
Dr. Kathy Burgoire, a volunteer in the department, revealed that the hospital loses 35 to 45 children each month, translating to one or two deaths daily, highlighting the urgent need for additional staff and resources.
In the obstetrics and gynecology department, Dr. Kenneth Mugabe, the department head, stressed that only three specialists are managing the entire department, which also lacks a senior consultant.
He suggested that enhancing services at lower-level health facilities could help reduce the patient load at Mbale Regional Referral Hospital. Additionally, the completion of a new surgical complex, currently under construction, is expected to alleviate some of the hospital’s space issues by adding over 200 beds.
Torch Media Africa
