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Dr. Bwaga highlighted the dire need for an operational Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in the Bunyoro region
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By Our Reporter
HOIMA - Dr. Ibrahim Bwaga, Director of Hoima Regional Referral Hospital, has sounded the alarm over a tragic rise in maternal deaths within the region. Appearing before Parliament’s Health Committee to present the hospital's 2025/26 Budget Framework Paper, Dr. Bwaga revealed that 57 women died during labor over the past year, with 45 of them succumbing within 30 minutes of arrival due to the long distances they had to travel to access care.
“These women travel over 100 kilometers to reach Hoima Hospital. Many arrive in critical condition, especially those who have undergone multiple caesarean sections and are from districts without operational theaters,” Dr. Bwaga explained.
The delays in seeking care often result in families resigning to fate. “Some community members refuse to transport patients to Kampala for intensive care services, instead choosing to prepare for burials,” he added.
Dr. Bwaga highlighted the dire need for an operational Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in the Bunyoro region, noting that while a new ICU is under construction, its completion depends on the arrival and installation of essential equipment.
The hospital also faces severe congestion, with pediatric patients sometimes forced to share beds, and surgical operations occurring under extreme pressure. “Our theater operates like an airport—one plane landing as another takes off,” he said, emphasizing the hospital’s struggle with only two operational theater tables.
Lawmakers expressed concern over the hospital’s challenges, urging expedited support to address the dire situation. Dr. Bwaga concluded with a call for increased resources to equip the ICU and enhance healthcare delivery in the region.
The Health Committee is expected to review Hoima Hospital’s budgetary requests to determine measures to improve maternal and overall healthcare services in the Bunyoro sub-region.
