Pajule Health Center IV in Pader District is struggling to provide adequate maternal health services due to a severe shortage of delivery beds, forcing expectant mothers to give birth on the floor.
Serving over 200,000 people, the facility handles an average of seven deliveries daily under extreme resource constraints.
Dr. Denis Ocaya, the in-charge of the facility, says they are overwhelmed by the high number of expectant mothers seeking maternity care. With only one functional delivery bed, the facility is unable to cope with demand, leaving women to endure unsafe and undignified childbirth conditions.
“We are doing our best, but the shortage of beds, understaffing, and limited infrastructure make it extremely difficult,” Dr. Ocaya said.
Rachel Odong, a resident, urged authorities to urgently intervene. “Most mothers are forced to deliver on the floor, and after birth, they have no choice but to go home because there is nowhere to rest,” she lamented.
According to the Pader District Health Department, 6,033 deliveries were recorded across 38 health facilities in 2024, covering only 59.3% of all births in the district. Pajule Health Centre IV alone accounted for 1,514 of these deliveries.
The district’s perinatal mortality rate stands at 11%, with neonatal mortality at 5% and a cesarean section rate of 3.3%.
Dr. Benson Oyoo, the Acting District Health Officer, acknowledged the dire situation but commended health workers for their resilience. He urged them to keep serving the community as they await government intervention.
Pader LCV Chairperson, Col (Rtd) Fearless Obwoya Oyat, emphasized the urgent need for additional delivery beds at Pajule Health Centre IV and Laguti Health Centre III.
The district has appealed to the Ministry of Health to upgrade Pajule Health Center IV to a district hospital. However, the Ministry stated that the upgrade would require between 5 billion and 20 billion shillings—funds that are currently unavailable.
According to Ministry of Health standards, a Health Centre IV should function as a mini-hospital with wards for men, women, and children, the ability to admit patients, at least two doctors, and an operating theatre for emergency procedures. However, Pajule Health Center IV falls far below these requirements, leaving thousands of women at risk.
