Alwi Health Center III, a lifeline for more than 900 people along the Nebbi–Pakwach highway in northern Uganda, is overwhelmed by patients and starved of space. The facility records an average of eight deliveries a day or 60 to 80 monthly but has only one functional delivery bed, forcing some expectant mothers to give birth on the floor while male and female patients share overcrowded wards.
The lack of space has directly affected sexual and reproductive health services. Expectant mothers are often left to give birth on the floor because of a shortage of delivery beds and space.
“We admit both genders in the same room due to limited space, which compromises privacy and makes some patients shy away from seeking care,” said Hadijja Aliku, the senior clinical officer in charge. The facility has only one functional delivery bed.
Local residents are worried about risks to maternal health. “Expectant mothers are opting to give birth with untrained traditional birth attendants because there isn’t enough space or delivery beds, forcing women to deliver on the floor,” said Oliver Piyic, a resident of Puyang.
After delivery, women are often sent home immediately due to the lack of resting rooms, increasing their risk of complications. Robert Odia, LC III chairman of Alwi subcounty, said the challenges go beyond delivery beds. “Limited infrastructure forces management to admit both sexes in the same ward, discouraging expectant mothers from seeking admission,” he said.
Odia and other leaders are pushing for the facility to be upgraded to a Health Center IV. “Upgrading the facility and providing separate wards for females and males would improve privacy and overall healthcare delivery,” Odia said.
District Health Officer Dr. Paul Ajal said authorities have lobbied for support from partners such as MTN Uganda. “Construction of a general ward to separate female patients is ongoing, and the issue of limited delivery beds will be addressed by the end of this year,” Ajal said.
MTN Uganda, working with the Alur Kingdom, has already installed rainwater tanks, solar panels, and renovated the facility’s kitchen. MTN Uganda CEO Sylvia Mulinge said the company’s “21 Days of Y’ello Care” initiative in Alur Kingdom focuses on healthcare, digital inclusion, and youth empowerment.
“Since child marriage remains a pressing issue, with Alwi Health Centre III reporting that more than half of new births are to girls under 18, MTN Uganda aims to create platforms to address maternal health challenges and reduce early pregnancies,” Mulinge said.
Vincent Ochaya Orach, executive director of the Alur Kingdom, said the kingdom is committed to improving health services through partnerships. “We aim to improve the lives of the community, from young people to the elderly, by equipping health facilities with modern equipment,” he said.
He added that Patongu Health Center in Nebbi and Zeu Health Center III in Zombo district are slated for renovations and new delivery beds to improve maternal care. The kingdom is also using sports to raise awareness about child marriage and teenage pregnancy.
