Expectant mothers and those who have already given birth are struggling to share the limited space and beds available at the facility.
The limited space and beds have some expectant mothers with other option than sleeping in the corridors and the verandah.
Ms Harriet Komuhimbo, the in charge of the facility says the ward was constructed to accommodate only 40 beds but the hospital receives more than 100 expectant mothers leaving them without any space there.
Expectant mothers and their attendants are also seen competing for space inside the ward while others sleep in the corridor or the hospital compound.
Ms Komuhimbo says that the hospital authorities are sometimes forced to refer the patients to Buhinga Regional Referral Hospital in Fort Portal Town, Kabarole District due to the limited space.
“It is becoming increasingly difficult for us to handle the matter because of inadequate space and beds at the facility and sometimes it becomes hard for the nurses to administer medication to the mothers and their children on the floor”.
Ms Jennifer Lukia, a mother from Kigarale sub-county says she is among those who were sent outside the ward shortly after giving birth due to lack of enough space.
Ms Margaret Karungi says she went to the hospital to deliver last week but has since been stranded outside the ward with midwives telling her that her time to deliver is not yet due.
“The midwives told me to be waiting from outside the ward because my time to deliver is yet to come so that I can give space to those who are already suffering from birth pangs,” she says
Mr Bruce Rwampunda, the hospital administrator says the hospital administration is aware of the situation but have run out of options. He adds that health workers are also concerned about the congestion.
“We are aware of the current situation at the hospital and we have forwarded the concerns to the district authorities for action,” he says.
The Kyenjojo District Chief Administrative Officer, Mr Samuel Kaija, says that the district local government has allocated Shs160m in their budget for the coming financial year to construct a new maternity ward.
