A shortage of beds and lack of space is affecting operations in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department at Lira Regional Referral Hospital (LRRH).
The hospital has a 19-bed- capacity maternity ward which now serves an average of 40 mothers daily whereas the post-natal ward which has a capacity of 20 beds has more admissions, forcing some patients and caregivers to sleep on the floor or outside.
Dr. James Okello, an obstetrician, and gynecologist says that some of their clients are forced to sleep on the floor due to inadequate space. He adds that the beds are given to pregnant mothers with complications and those who have delivered through the caesarian section.
He also cited inadequate staffing in the department as another challenge, which creates work overload. The department has 3 specialists and only 16 midwives to handle the over 20 normal deliveries.
Some caregivers want the hospital administrators to erect tents and provide mosquito nets.
With a 400-bed capacity, the health facility offers both general and specialized services to an average of 1,000 patients in the Out Patient Department (OPD) and 300 In-patient admission every day.