KABALE REFERRAL HOSPITAL MIDWIVES COMPLAIN OVER LACK OF STAFF

By Grant Ahumuza
www.mknewslink.com
In Kabale

As Uganda joined the rest of the world to celebrate the international day of the midwife, nurses at Kabale Regional Referral Hospital have raised concerns over the increased influx of expectant mothers to the facility compared to their number.
Annet Nayiga, a senior nursing officer, who’s also the in-charge maternity ward at Kabale regional referral Hospital said they are overwhelmed by the pregnant mothers, especially those referred from lower health units.
Nayiga said these during he international day of midwife held at Kabale referral hospital
She added that they are always overwhelmed by the numbers of expectant mothers yet they are understaffed but they try their best, because of the team work.
The hospital has twenty senior midwives instead of thirty, and thirty seven enrolled midwives instead of 47.
Kabale Regional Referral hospital is responsible for the Districts of Rubanda, Kisoro, Rukiga, Kanungu, and Rukungiri.
Nayiga stressed that because of transport problems, some mothers reach here when they are tired with other complications and unfortunately some arrive when their babies are already dead.
She called on government to increase the numbers of health workers in hospitals and health centers, saying the scheme used to deploy them was for long ago.
She said the population of people has since increased, and therefore the deployment of midwives should be increased in health centers.
Nayiga said low deployment of midwives especially in lower health centers increases the influx of pregnant mothers at the referral hospital, which compromises the quality of services they should offer as required.
Nayiga also raised a concern of inadequate medical supplies, saying most pregnant mothers are referred to private clinics to buy drugs, which affects their service delivery.
Each year the International Day of the Midwife is marked in recognition and celebration of the work of midwives all across the globe.
Midwives, women, partners, stakeholders, and supporters of midwives come together to thank them and to raise awareness about the status of midwives and the essential care they provide to mothers and their newborns.
The theme for ICM 2020 is Midwives with women: celebrate, demonstrate, mobilise, unite – our time is NOW!

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