Lira mothers sleep on cold hospital floors
Expectant mothers sit on the floor as they await treatment at Lira hospital. Photo by Hudson Apunyo
What you need to know:
The maternity ward meant for 25 mothers takes in more than 50 mothers a day
Lira- The minister of state for Health in charge of general duties, Dr Elioda Tumwesigye, was last week
shocked to see the condition in which mothers were at the maternity ward of Lira Regional Referral
Hospital.
As part of his national ward rounds tour, Dr Tumwesigye was on Thursday in the facility and observed
firsthand how mothers were sleeping on the bare floor without mosquito nets in a congested ward.
The ward is meant for 25 mothers but now houses more than 50 patients daily.
Accompanied by three Members of Parliament - Joy Atim Ongom (Woman Lira), Kyewalabye Majegere (Bunya
East), Peter Okeyo (Bukoli) and officials from Ministry of Health, Dr Tumwesigye.
The team was informed that the rate of maternal and neonatal death is on the rise with two maternal
deaths, six neonatal and 11 stillbirths last month.
Senior Principal Nursing Officer Petua Kiboko said mothers fail to access the facility due to lack of
transport. She said mothers have complications, with some being brought to the hospital when they are
tired and cannot deliver normally resorting to caesarean operations. Others die due to lack of blood.
Sr Kiboko said the lower facilities should actively participate in the delivery of these mothers to
reduce risk of death and the work load at the hospital.
Dr. William Ocen the Director of LRRH said the hospital built in 1942 is overwhelmed with number of
patients. He said last Monday they examined and treated 2413 patients in the OPD.
