By Wadulo Arnold Mark
KAMPALA – Approaching the newly renovated Stanfield Pediatric Ward at Mulago National Referral Hospital, visitors are immediately met by a striking exterior transformation. Where a deteriorating structure once stood—marred by a single hazardous exit, an unused rain tank, and unshaded walkways—now stands a modernized, multi-exit clinical facility.
Stepping inside, the ward opens into a vibrant, sunlit sanctuary designed specifically to uplift sick children and medical staff. The interior walls feature warm, cheerful color palettes supplied by Kansai Plascon, adorned with painted murals of soaring birds, lush mountains, and smiling Ugandan children. Across the spacious general ward and specialized treatment rooms, mobile oxygen cylinders have been replaced by piped oxygen ports installed at every single bed. Modern nursing counters, expanded doctors’ workstations, upgraded sanitation blocks, and dedicated staff decontamination showers provide a dignifying, functional environment for pediatric care.
The UGX 800 million facility was officially commissioned by Mulago National Referral Hospital on 17th September 2026, following an intensive two-year renovation and expansion campaign. The project was spearheaded by Grow in Hope, a faith-based organization headquartered in Ashland, Ohio and Uganda, alongside corporate partners such as Kansai Plascon Uganda and local contractors Dellwall International.
The physical redesign directly addresses long-standing clinical vulnerabilities across the pediatric department. Dr. Lucy Amaniyo Mukiibi, Deputy In-Charge of Stanfield Ward, explained that the ward manages complex pediatric conditions, ranging from malaria and liver disease to highly contagious viral threats like measles, chickenpox, Mpox, tuberculosis, Ebola, and Marburg.
“Before the renovation, we had a makeshift segregation where children with infectious conditions shared washrooms, corridors, and feeding spaces with general patients,” Dr. Mukiibi recalled. “Now, each highly contagious condition is housed in separate isolation rooms with dedicated washrooms. This physical segregation of space is very important in terms of infection prevention and containing outbreaks”. She added that a dedicated High Dependency Unit (HDU) was established directly adjacent to the nurses’ and doctors’ stations to enable continuous monitoring of critically ill children.
The transformation reflects a deep commitment to human dignity and faith-driven service. Amanda Wolfe, Executive Director of Grow in Hope Uganda, who co-led the project voluntarily alongside her husband Aaron Wolfe, emphasized that the ward’s aesthetics serve a spiritual and therapeutic purpose. “A beautiful building cannot heal a child, but the environment in which we care for people says something about how much we value them,” Amanda stated. “Jesus sees that child’s value and says you matter. Mercy sees suffering and chooses not to walk past it”. She recalled a pivotal moment on July 22 when project funds were completely exhausted, noting that within two days an unsolicited donor contact reached out to finance the remaining work. Aaron Wolfe added that the building’s real beauty “is going to come alive when the nurses and doctors return encouraged to an environment that helps them do their difficult job just a little bit better”.
Prof. Philippa Musoke, Board Chairperson of Mulago National Referral Hospital, noted: “When you work in a beautiful environment, your mood is lifted. You get here and it’s so bright you’re like, ‘I can do it, I can do it!'”.
Representing the Ministry of Health, Dr. Richard Mugahi, Assistant Commissioner for Child and Maternal Health, affirmed that the facility sets a new national standard. “This renovation has put Stanfield Ward at the standard that if someone is infectious, the baby is not able to infect other babies or the care provider,” Dr. Mugahi observed.
Crucially, Dr. Mugahi revealed a major government policy initiative aimed at motivating healthcare professionals across the country. He announced that Minister of Health Dr. Chris Baryomunsi is preparing a formal position paper petitioning President Yoweri Museveni to consider waiving the 30% Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) tax on healthcare workers’ salaries, ensuring that recent salary increments translate into higher take-home pay.
The ward honors the legacy of Dr. James Padet Stanfield, an English pediatrician who arrived in Uganda in 1962 for a temporary government assignment that evolved into 11 years of transformative service. As Professor of Pediatrics and Child Health at Makerere University, Dr. Stanfield pioneered community pediatrics, disease prevention, and child nutrition, authoring the acclaimed textbook Tropical Pediatrics.
Forced to leave Uganda in 1973 due to political instability under Idi Amin, Dr. Stanfield continued returning into his 80s to lecture and mentor young doctors. A devout Christian who cherished God’s creation especially Uganda’s mountains, birds, and natural scenery his passions directly inspired the ward’s artwork and green decorative accents.
Prof. Philippa Musoke recalled personally naming the ward after Dr. Stanfield during her tenure as head of department, noting that Dr. Stanfield and his wife attended the naming ceremony in person. Grounded in Micah 6:8 “To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God” the renovated Stanfield Pediatric Ward stands as a lasting monument to compassionate care for Uganda’s children.
