Members of Parliament gathered in the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) recently were surprised by news about Entebbe Regional Referral Hospital. The hospital, according to reports, doesn’t have a single delivery bed. This revelation came during a session where hospital officials, led by Acting Director Dr. John Bosco Nsubuga and Senior Hospital Administrator Richard Tumwesigye, were responding to questions raised in the Auditor General’s report for the financial year ending June 30, 2023.
The Deputy Chairperson of the committee, Honorable Gorreth Namugga, along with other MPs, expressed their astonishment. They couldn’t believe that a hospital in an urban area had no delivery beds for mothers and only two incubators for premature babies.
According to the Auditor General, the maternity ward at Entebbe Regional Referral Hospital operates without delivery beds. Instead, they use a surgical recovery bed, improvising to deliver around 20 children daily. The report highlighted that the hospital’s budget of approximately Shs200 million is inadequate for procuring new equipment or even for repairs.
Namugga questioned how mothers were managing to deliver without proper beds. She also criticized the women working at the hospital for not influencing policy to ensure the hospital received delivery beds. She asked the hospital director where he would take his wife to give birth, given the situation at the hospital.
Another Member of Parliament, Honorable Xavier Kyooma, mentioned that while the Government procures beds, it’s the hospital’s responsibility to show the need. He urged the hospital leadership to provide evidence of their efforts in contacting the Ministry of Health regarding the need for beds.
The hospital administrator, Tumwesigye, explained that during the COVID-19 pandemic, they used a lot of chemicals for disinfection, causing corrosion to equipment, including delivery beds. Due to budget constraints, they couldn’t replace the damaged beds. Hence, they resorted to using a surgical recovery bed. He expressed hope in securing funds to procure new delivery beds soon.
When asked about the cost of the beds, the hospital director, Nsubuga, mentioned a range between Shs1.2 million and 3.8 million. MPs wondered why a fundraiser hadn’t been organized yet, especially if there were delays from the ministry.
Nsubuga informed the committee that they’ve been in talks with the Ministries of Health and Finance for funding. Additionally, they’ve reached out to stakeholders like the Rotary Club of Entebbe and Save the Children for assistance. In the upcoming financial year, they’ve requested funds to purchase at least 12 delivery beds.
The committee also raised concerns about the hospital having only two incubators for over 4,000 annual deliveries. The Auditor General’s report pointed out that this shortage affects healthcare quality and poses risks contributing to child mortality.
