Sakubva Hospital faces bed shortage

Mothers and their newborns at Sakubva District Hospital were forced to sleep on thin mattresses on the floor last week due to a shortage of beds, Mutare District Medical Officer Dr. David Muchirewesi has confirmed.

Dr. Muchirewesi explained that the hospital briefly exceeded its bed capacity as patient numbers surged, particularly in the maternity ward. "There was a moment last week when patients exceeded the available beds and we could not turn anyone away. The extra patients were temporarily placed on floor beds while we mobilised additional beds and created more space," he said.

To alleviate the situation, an office space at the hospital has been converted into a ward accommodating six beds. Dr. Muchirewesi added that long-term plans are underway to construct a new district hospital, with land already identified and proposals submitted to the Ministry for approval.

The hospital currently records around 120 deliveries per week, with approximately 45 conducted via caesarean section. As the only referral facility serving both urban and rural areas in Mutare, Sakubva Hospital has seen an increase in patients choosing to deliver there, attributed in part to a significant reduction in maternal deaths.

"Our maternal death rate has dropped from five in 2024 to just one so far this year, which has increased the confidence of women seeking care at our hospital," Dr. Muchirewesi said.

The temporary bed shortages highlight the pressing need for expanded healthcare infrastructure to accommodate the growing demand for maternal services in the region.