The management of Hoima Regional Referral Hospital is urging the Ministry of Health and local governments to upgrade and equip district and health centre theatres across the Bunyoro sub-region.
The hospital, which serves as a central point for nine districts, is struggling to cope with an influx of referrals, particularly for expectant mothers, due to the limited capacity of only four theatre beds.
Dr. Ibrahim Bwaga, the hospital's director, expressed concern over the risks faced by mothers who are transported long distances--sometimes over 100 kilometres--for urgent medical attention.
"Transporting a mother such a long distance in critical condition poses a significant risk to their lives," Dr. Bwaga stated.
Hoima Regional Referral Hospital currently handles over 40 deliveries daily, but the facility's limited theatre capacity means many mothers, including those in critical condition, must wait for treatment.
Dr. Bwaga highlighted the dangers of delayed treatment, noting that the act of waiting can be life-threatening for both mothers and their babies.
"When a mother arrives in critical condition and all the theatre beds are occupied, she has to wait. This waiting is dangerous. We do our best to provide some relief, but in cases of severe bleeding or when the baby is already in distress, the outcome can be tragic," Dr. Bwaga explained.
"Although the number of maternal deaths here is minimal, we are committed to reducing it even further."
The situation is exacerbated by the fact that many district health centres and hospitals in the region have non-functional theatres, leading to an overwhelming number of referrals to Hoima Regional Referral Hospital.
Dr. Bwaga called on the Ministry of Health and local governments to upgrade and properly equip these district theatres to reduce the burden on the regional facility.
"We are advocating for these hospitals to have their theatres upgraded and fully operational. There is also a staffing issue that needs to be addressed. If district theatres are functioning properly, it will save more mothers and reduce the pressure on our regional hospital, reserving it for truly critical cases," Dr. Bwaga added.
Senior Nursing Officer, Sister Evelyn Achayo, also expressed concern about the continued practice of late referrals from hospitals in the region.
"Our appeal is for theatres to be functional and for timely referrals. When mothers are referred early, it allows us to assess and plan their treatment, rather than having to operate in a state of panic when they arrive in critical condition. Saving mothers and babies is possible with timely referrals," Sr. Achayo emphasized.
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Hoima City Resident District Commissioner, Badru Mugabi, urged local governments to prioritize the recruitment of critical staff for health sectors, particularly for theatres.
"The Ministry of Public Service has guided on recruiting critical staff. It's concerning that we still have theatres without the necessary personnel. Local governments should allocate funds to recruit these essential workers. We cannot allow our mothers to die when there are better ways to address the issue," Mugabi said.
According to reports, Kikuube District leads in maternal deaths due to delayed referrals at 32%, followed by Hoima District at 11% and Kyankwanzi District at 9%.
