Four Rotary clubs of Masaka, Nnalumunye, Kyengera, and Kyotera have jointly donated 70 mattresses to Masaka Regional Referral Hospital as part of a wider initiative to improve maternal and child healthcare in the Greater Masaka region.
The donation, coordinated collectively by the four clubs, seeks to reduce the number of mothers and babies who have been sleeping on cement floors due to severe bed and mattress shortages at the facility.
While handing over the mattresses, Rotarian Madrine Namayengo, President of the Rotary Club of Masaka, said the decision was informed by disturbing findings about the conditions under which expectant mothers were receiving care.
She noted that some mothers slept on bare floors, while others improvised due to overcrowding.
“The situation greatly moved us. As Rotarians, we felt compelled to intervene,” Namayengo said.
She emphasized that the clubs jointly committed to donating 100 mattresses—70 of which have now been delivered, with the remaining 30 expected soon. The initiative aligns with the Rotary focus area of Maternal and Child Health.
In addition to mattresses, the clubs have donated equipment for premature babies and plan to provide more breathing equipment as part of their annual support.
Namayengo urged hospital administrators to ensure proper maintenance of the new mattresses to prolong their lifespan.
She added that healthcare facilities across the Greater Masaka region continue to face major challenges and require more support from development partners.
Dr. Mary Nyantalo, the Deputy Director of Masaka Regional Referral Hospital and a pediatric specialist, welcomed the donation, noting the hospital serves 10 districts and faces overwhelming daily demand.
The maternity ward alone handles about 30 deliveries per day but has only 33 beds, leaving many new mothers without proper accommodation. The hospital also manages around 30 premature babies daily, stretching both capacity and equipment.
Dr. Nyantalo commended government efforts, including the construction of a new 400-bed mothers-and-children facility, but stressed the ongoing need for partners to step in with beds, mattresses, and specialized equipment.
She also encouraged expectant mothers to attend antenatal care, saying it helps track fetal development, detect complications early, and reduce premature births.
