Uganda: Overcrowding forces babies to share beds at Nalufenya Hospital

Five babies sharing one hospital bed and critically ill children occupying corridors are among the challenges facing Nalufenya Children's Hospital in Jinja, as health workers call for urgent government intervention.

The specialised paediatric unit under Jinja Regional Referral Hospital is grappling with overcrowding, ageing infrastructure, staff shortages and inadequate facilities amid growing demand for children's healthcare.

The hospital receives between 200 and 300 outpatients daily and admits about 30 to 40 children, putting pressure on its limited resources.

Dr Emmanuel Tenywa, a consultant paediatrician and cardiologist at the facility, said the children's unit has an official capacity of 89 beds but sometimes accommodates as many as 220 patients.

“We have a bed capacity of 89, but we sometimes have up to 220 children admitted. This means some babies have to share beds, while others are accommodated in the corridors,” Dr Tenywa said.

He said the overcrowding compromises the delivery of specialised care and puts additional pressure on health workers.

“We need more space and better facilities to provide the specialised care these children deserve,” he said.

Dr Tenywa called on government to expand the hospital, recruit more health workers and renovate its ageing staff quarters, some of which have reportedly been condemned.

He also cited the need for an emergency paediatric ward and an intensive care unit (ICU) to handle critically ill children.

The challenges persist despite the facility's long-standing role in providing children's healthcare in the region.

In January 2005, the Madhvani Group, which owned the facility, refurbished it and handed it over to government for use as a children's healthcare unit.

More than two decades later, rising demand has outpaced the facility's infrastructure and capacity.

Dr Afizi Kibuuka, the Deputy Director of Jinja Regional Referral Hospital, said the hospital's management board had recognised the need to upgrade Nalufenya into a National Specialised Paediatric Hospital.

“The management board has agreed on the need to transform Nalufenya into a national specialised paediatric hospital. However, this requires government support and commitment,” Dr Kibuuka said.

He said the proposed upgrade would establish the facility as a national centre for specialised children's healthcare.

The concerns were raised during a visit to the hospital on Saturday by Minister for the Presidency Milly Babalanda.

Ms Babalanda commended doctors, nurses and other health workers for continuing to serve patients despite the difficult working conditions.

She pledged to present the hospital's concerns to Cabinet to seek government intervention.