By Aminata Abu Bakarr Kamara

The Rokupr Town Hospital, a vital healthcare facility in the Kambia District of Sierra Leone, is grappling with an urgent shortage of medical beds and chairs, compromising the quality of healthcare for thousands of residents. This critical situation is impacting the hospital’s ability to effectively serve a growing population, leaving many patients in distress.

Hospital management has voiced deep concerns about the lack of essential equipment, reporting that patients often endure long waits for medical beds. Many are forced to wait in overcrowded corridors, while some are treated in makeshift spaces due to the absence of sufficient facilities. The outpatient department is also struggling, as the scarcity of chairs leaves patients waiting in discomfort.

Mr. Alusine Kamara, the hospital’s Community Health Officer (CHO), expressed the urgency of the crisis:

“We are in desperate need of support. The influx of patients, especially those requiring extended care, has overwhelmed our resources. It is heartbreaking to see patients suffering simply because we do not have enough beds or chairs.”

The shortage of equipment has placed additional pressure on the hospital’s medical staff, who are working tirelessly to manage the situation. While nurses and doctors have been forced to improvise solutions, this compromises the quality of care and heightens the risk of poor health outcomes.

Local authorities are aware of the crisis and are engaging with regional health bodies to address the shortage. However, funding remains a significant challenge. Community leaders have issued an urgent appeal to the government, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and charitable institutions to intervene and ease the growing strain on the hospital.

The urgency has been heightened by a recent surge in common illnesses such as malaria, respiratory infections, and chronic conditions, which often require long-term care. Without the necessary equipment, the hospital’s ability to treat these patients is severely limited.

Additionally, the hospital faces another challenge: the deteriorating condition of the road leading to its entrance. A bridge along the route is in dire need of reconstruction. While community members, with support from the CHO and other key stakeholders, have made efforts to maintain the road, a long-term solution is urgently required.

Local leaders are calling on the government to urgently address both the hospital’s equipment shortages and the road infrastructure. Improving the hospital’s capacity and access will ensure better healthcare for the residents of Rokupr Town and surrounding communities.

The people of Rokupr Town are hopeful that swift assistance will arrive, enabling the hospital to continue providing essential services to the community and ensuring that no patient suffers for lack of a bed, chair, or accessible road.