MBARARA, Uganda — News reaching our desk reveals that Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital conducted over 147 safe deliveries.
The administration, through its Public Relations Officer, Halson Kagure, says that while many were enjoying Christmas in the countryside, their medics, especially those attached to the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department, spent the better part of Christmas in the labour suite and operating theatres delivering mothers.
Since then, the majority of the expectant mothers have delivered via spontaneous vaginal delivery and C-section.
On average, they were delivering 21 babies daily, as opposed to the 30 to 35 babies the hospital delivers on a given day, which translates to over 12,000 annually.
Hospital spokesperson Kagure reported that all babies and their mothers are in good condition and that discharges have been ongoing. However, Kagure said those whose deliveries were complicated were transferred to the postnatal ward for further monitoring and are progressing well.
For example, Judith Tusiime is one of them. She delivered on the 25th and is still admitted in the hospital’s postnatal ward.
A resident of Ndaija Rugando in Rwampara District, Judith, supported by her husband, was rushed to Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital on the night of the 25th in an unconscious state.
Due to the nature of her pregnancy, doctors recommended an emergency caesarean section and successfully delivered a healthy baby girl. The husband, who was previously scared, said that much as they have spent some days in the hospital, it is a blessing to have got a baby girl at Christmas.
The couple applauded Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital staff for their responsiveness in saving lives.
Her story is not any different from that of Phiona Ainembabazi, who also came in as a referral from Rubindi in Mbarara Rural on the night of the 23rd, before she was operated on the following day and delivered a 2.4-kilogram baby girl.
The husband, Jonan Tumusiime, was equally excited, saying he had the best Christmas in the hospital compared to any other time.
Notably, he contrasted this with past festivities where lower health facilities would close for Christmas, adding that they were not challenged by patient influx—an indication that facilities never closed for good.
Kagure notes that out of the 147 total deliveries, 76 mothers were assisted to deliver normally, subjecting the rest to successful surgical procedures. The administration applauded staff for the good job done.
