St Mary’s Hospital Lacor is overwhelmed by cases of children suffering from malaria, doctors at the hospital have said.
Dr Richard Nyeko, a pediatrician at the health facility said the children’s ward has 160 beds yet there are currently 400 children admitted with malaria forcing some of the children to be placed on the floor while others share beds.
‘‘We should provide services to the sick children much as we don`t have enough beds. That is why they share beds while others are on the floor,’’ Dr Nyeko said.
In the children’s ward intensive care unit (ICU), Dr Nyeko said, there are only four beds yet is used to treat 20 children a day.
Dr Nyeko said the number of children admitted with malaria at Lacor is on the rise. From May this year, he said, 50-80 children are registered daily at the hospital.
Inadequate blood due to the high number of children admitted is the other challenge the hospital is facing, according to Dr Nyeko.
Christine Layet, a mother whose child is sharing beds with two other children at the hospital told Acholi Times that she fears her child is at risk of contracting other diseases.
‘‘The problems we are facing in the hospital is that our children are sharing beds and their lives are at risks of contracting other diseases. My child needs blood but there is no blood this is also challenging,’’ Layet said.
Dr Emin Ayela, Lacor hospital’s Medical director said malaria increased in the district after government stopped the indoor residual spray (IRS
By Emmy Ojara And David Okema
