The highly anticipated opening of the new maternity complex at Masaka Regional Referral Hospital has hit a snag due to a lack of adequate funding, hospital officials report. The state-of-the-art facility, which was slated to begin operations in the first quarter of 2024, now faces an indefinite delay as the hospital administration scrambles to secure the necessary resources.
“We had everything in place – the infrastructure, the equipment, the staffing plan – but without the full budget allocation, we simply cannot move forward with the official launch,” explained the hospital’s administrator Mr Charles Tumushime .
“This is a disappointing setback, as we had been eagerly anticipating the opening of this much-needed facility to serve the growing population in the Masaka region”Tumushime Added.
The maternity complex was envisioned as a major upgrade to the hospital’s obstetric and gynecological services, providing expanded capacity, modern delivery suites, and advanced neonatal care.
However, funding shortfalls at the national and district levels have prevented the release of the final tranche of capital required to complete the project.
Local leaders and community members have expressed frustration with the delay, arguing that the new maternity complex is a critical piece of health infrastructure for the region.
“Mothers in Masaka deserve access to high-quality, comprehensive maternal care,” said Margaret Nakitto, a resident and maternal health advocate. “This delay only compounds the challenges they already face in obtaining proper prenatal and delivery services.”
Hospital administrators remain hopeful that the necessary funding will be secured in the coming months to allow for the complex’s opening before the end of 2024.
In the meantime, they are working to reassure the public that the existing maternity ward will continue operating and providing essential services.
“We are doing everything in our power to minimize the impact of this delay on our patients,” assured Dr. Nalubega. “But we cannot deliver the full scope of services envisioned without the completed maternity complex.”
