Lira City, Uganda: The government has commissioned Northern Uganda’s first specialised urogynecology and fistula care ward at Lira Regional Referral Hospital, a major step aimed at improving treatment for women suffering from childbirth-related complications across the region.
The Shs600 million facility, constructed with support from the MUSA Project, has a 45-bed capacity and is equipped with modern medical equipment, including operating tables, anesthesia machines, hospital beds, and patient monitoring systems.
Health officials say the new ward will strengthen the hospital’s capacity to manage complex reproductive health conditions such as obstetric fistula, pelvic organ prolapse, and urinary incontinence, conditions that have long affected many women in Northern Uganda.
Speaking during the commissioning ceremony on Saturday, Health Minister Dr Jane Ruth Aceng described the facility as a critical intervention for women who have struggled to access specialized reproductive healthcare services.
“This ward will greatly improve the quality of care for women suffering from fistula and other pelvic floor disorders. For many years, women in the Lango sub-region have endured these conditions silently due to lack of specialized treatment facilities,” Dr Aceng said.
She noted that beyond the physical complications, many women suffering from fistula also face severe social stigma.
“Fistula does not only cause medical suffering but also social suffering. Many women are isolated, rejected and ashamed because of the condition. This facility will help restore their dignity and give them a chance to live normal lives again,” she added.
Dr Aceng also warned that teenage pregnancy remains one of the leading causes of obstetric fistula, mainly due to obstructed labour associated with early pregnancies.
“Early pregnancies remain one of the leading causes of obstructed labour, which is a major cause of fistula. As government, we must strengthen efforts to keep girls in school and prevent teenage pregnancies,” she said.
The minister also pledged to advocate for expansion of the hospital to address increasing demand for maternal health services in the region.
“I have heard the concerns regarding congestion at the hospital. I will advocate for the expansion of Lira Regional Referral Hospital so that it can effectively serve the growing population in this region,” she said.
According to Dr James Okello, Head of Gynecology at the hospital, fistula treatment services were first introduced at the facility in 2020 but were limited by space constraints.
“We started offering fistula repair services in 2020 with a very small ward that could only accommodate about 15 to 17 patients. Because of that limitation, we could only treat a small number of women at a time,” Dr Okello said.
“With this new 45-bed ward, we shall be able to increase the number of patients we treat and expand specialized reproductive health services to serve more women across Northern Uganda,” he added.
Dr Okello revealed that the hospital currently conducts specialized surgical camps during which between 100 and 120 fistula patients receive treatment each year.
“Most of the women who come here have lived with fistula for many years because they did not know where to seek treatment or lacked access to services. This ward will help us reduce that backlog,” he explained.
The Acting Hospital Director, Dr Andrew Odur, said the new facility will provide dignified and specialized care for women who often face discrimination due to untreated reproductive health complications.
“Women suffering from fistula are among the most vulnerable patients we see. Many of them are stigmatized in their communities because of constant leakage and other complications,” Dr Odur said. “This ward will ensure they receive treatment in a safe, respectful and well-equipped environment,” he added.
Hospital administrators say the facility also helps address longstanding capacity challenges at the regional referral hospital.
Lira Hospital currently handles between 800 and 1,000 maternal cases annually, yet previously had only about 15 beds dedicated to maternity-related complications.
With the addition of the new 45-bed ward, health officials believe the hospital will significantly improve treatment outcomes while strengthening its role as a major referral centre serving thousands of patients across Northern Uganda.
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