King Khaled Hospital : the maternity ward on the verge of overwhelm, obstetric emergencies in danger

SOS Médias Burundi

Bujumbura, July 31, 2026 — The big number of patients at King Khaled Hospital in Bujumbura, Burundi’s commercial capital, considered the country’s largest university hospital and one of its largest hospitals, particularly in the maternity ward, is causing concern among healthcare professionals. According to several hospital sources, the facility has been operating at full capacity since the suspension of free care in some other hospitals, a situation that is putting severe pressure on the management of obstetric emergencies.

According to testimonies gathered, operating rooms, intensive care units, and neonatal units are regularly operating beyond their capacity. Faced with a high number of patients, healthcare staff are reportedly forced to prioritize the most urgent cases, while some women are referred to other healthcare facilities, which are themselves sometimes overcrowded.

“We are receiving a number of patients that far exceeds our capacity. The operating rooms, intensive care unit, and neonatal unit are under constant pressure, which sometimes forces us to make difficult choices regarding patient care,” a hospital source stated.

Deaths attributed to delays in treatment

According to several concurring sources, this situation has already had serious consequences. Some patients and their newborns have reportedly died as a result of delays in treatment or because they were unable to receive timely emergency surgery, particularly cesarean sections.

The professionals interviewed mentioned several obstetric complications requiring immediate intervention, including cases of severe pre-eclampsia, uterine rupture, and other life-threatening emergencies for both mother and child.

They explain that repeated transfers between facilities, due to a lack of available beds or the unavailability of operating rooms, waste precious time while every minute can be crucial.

“In obstetrics, time is a critical factor. Delays due to a lack of beds, transfers, or the unavailability of equipment can have terrible consequences for the mother and newborn,” explains a healthcare professional.

Two deaths reported on Friday, July 17

The seriousness of the situation was particularly evident on Friday, July 17. According to hospital sources, two women died following obstetric complications.

One of them was a patient from Rubirizi, on the outskirts of Bujumbura. She had a uterine rupture requiring urgent surgery.

Another reported case involved a woman transferred to King Khaled Hospital after giving birth. Upon arrival, she presented with pre-eclampsia and a blood pressure of 20/11, requiring immediate resuscitation and specialized care for her newborn.

According to testimonies gathered, the intensive care and neonatal units were overwhelmed and facing a shortage of equipment. The medical team was reportedly forced to transfer the patient to another facility.

The cost of care, another obstacle

Financial difficulties also constitute a significant barrier to rapid access to care.

According to several accounts, some families delay seeking medical attention or struggle to cover medical expenses, which can worsen the condition of patients before they arrive at a suitable facility.

Healthcare professionals are calling for increased enrollment in health insurance schemes to reduce these financial obstacles and allow for faster treatment of obstetric emergencies.

Alerts sent to the Ministry of Health

According to reliable sources, the management of King Khaled Hospital has already alerted the Ministry of Public Health about the overcrowding of services, the lack of equipment, and the limitations of its capacity.

Healthcare professionals are advocating for increased human resources, expanded operating room, intensive care, and neonatal unit capacity, as well as improved coordination of transfers between facilities.

They are also calling for urgent measures to prevent the strain on services from further compromising the care of pregnant women and newborns.

They believe a swift response is necessary to reduce waiting times and limit risks to patients and their children.