How congestion in health centres is suffocating postnatal care

“The biggest challenge we have is inadequate space to accommodate all these mothers, so sometimes we may discharge them not because we are unable to handle the mothers, but because space is an issue,” she says. Egessa adds that besides space, the facility lacks beds for mothers to give birth and rest after delivery. She says some mothers and babies risk getting infections when they sleep on the floor where everyone passes.

Patients and caretakers in one of the wards at Butebo Health Centre IV in Butebo district. (Credit: Ibrahim Ruhweza)