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By Goodluck Musinguzi, 8th June 2025
Dr Diana Atwine, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health was in Mbarara City to inspect ongoing works at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital including a block that will house the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) which will solve the challenges of limited space.
We want to use this facility in July because our babies need it, make sure we have this building ready. When its delivered on time it accelerates access to critical health services, Dr Diana Atwine
The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital has been facing challenges, including limited space and staffing, according to mothers who have expressed concerns. The NICU, which provides specialized care for premature or ill newborns, is a vital part of the hospital, and these challenges impact the care they can provide.
Challenges and Concerns:
- Limited Space:Mothers have raised concerns about the lack of space within the NICU, potentially impacting the ability to provide adequate care to each infant.
- Staffing Issues:A shortage of nurses has also been highlighted, which can strain the available resources and impact the quality of care for the newborns.
- Importance of NICU:The NICU plays a critical role in caring for babies who require specialized attention due to prematurity, health problems, or a difficult birth.
- Parental Support:KidsHealth says that NICU stays can be stressful, and KidsHealth suggests providing resources and information to help parents understand and navigate the experience.
In summary, the NICU at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital is a crucial resource for newborn care, but faces challenges related to space and staffing that can impact the quality of care provided to infants in need.
Mbarara Hospital starts construction of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital will soon have a newly constructed neonatal intensive care unit to improve treatment for babies who are born early, those with breathing difficulty and those who are born with difficulty.
Construction of the four-storied unit was commissioned on Tuesday by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health Dr Diana Atwine. The facility 1.9 million Dollar facility is aimed at providing enough space for Neonatal Care.
Dr Atwine however decried the low staffing levels in government health facilities, a problem which contributes to the high neonatal mortality and prenatal deaths. She said the government needs to employ more paediatricians, neonatologists, doctors, and nurses to reduce the burden.
She, however, added that the government is prioritizing the expansion of access to neonatal services.
Dr Atwine observed a need to increase acute care services in the country by training more and deploying more specialists not only in neonatal services but also in acute care.
Dr Elias Kumba Kumba, the head of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital is optimistic that the services will improve with the construction of the new facility and deployment of more staff, especially nurses.
Henry Mwebesa, the Director General of Health Services in the Ministry of Health has asked the contractor Geses (U) LTD to utilize the specified time to complete the construction works noting that the money being used to construct the facility is a grant that will be returned to the treasury by December this year.
Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital Department of Pediatrics admits over 3000 babies every year and the majority of those are born within while the other half are referrals.
