Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, the Health Minister and Lira City Woman MP, presided over the ground-breaking ceremony and emphasized the need for the hospital to have enough land for expansion and the installation of other modern facilities. She also warned the community against encroaching on the hospital's land.
In 2012, Lira Regional Referral Hospital authorities dragged Geoffrey Okello to court on behalf of the community for allegedly encroaching on plots 9 to 19, 21 to 41 Military road, and plots 6 to 14 on Agoro road that belong to the hospital. High Court ruled in favor of the hospital as the rightful owner of the contested land.
With the new lab, the hospital will conduct liver and renal function tests, Prostate surface antigen, thyroid function tests, Histopathology and other specialized tests, resulting in a standardized and elevated level of care.
The construction was co-funded by the Government of Uganda and the Government of Japan as part of the government’s initiative to rehabilitate Regional Referral Hospitals in Northern Uganda.
Although the hospital has an oxygen plant, its production does not match the demand especially during the surge of COVID_19. The current plant which has the capacity to produce 30 oxygen cylinders is now producing at least 25 yet the unit uses approximately 60 cylinders per day.
However, at Lira Regional Referral Hospital, Dr. Stephen Obbo, the hospital’s director says over 90% of the staff there has been vaccinated. Adding that efforts are underway to ensure that the remaining percentage also receive the jab.
While addressing the COVID-19 task force meeting on Thursday, Kareiga informed the team that the circulation of fake vaccination cards has been recorded at Lira Regional Referral Hospital. He however did not disclose the number of people involved in the unscrupulous deal for fear of jeopardizing investigations.
Judith Namirimu Polah Nanyonjo, a Senior Principal Nursing Officer (SPNO) at Lira Regional Referral Hospital explained that the lack of PPEs is a major challenge.
Milton Odongo, the Lira Resident District Commissioner who doubles as the chairperson District task force, says that they have identified three treatment centres. They include Lira University teaching Hospital, PAG HCIII and Amach HCIV as new treatment centers.
Although he was a known diabetic patient, there is speculation that his condition worsened when he contracted Covid19 leading to his death. Two other health workers at Lira Regional Referral Hospital tested positive for Covid19 on September 5th, 2020.
The 16 unit staff housing project was handed to M/S Block Technical Services on June 14, 2018. However, the works commenced on Ju;y 17, 2018 and was expected to be completed by January 17 2020.
Milton Odongo, the Lira Resident District Commissioner, says the accused person requisitioned the gloves from the stores under the disguise of distributing them to other staffs and delivered to a private ambulance.
Geoffrey Oceng, the Amuru District Covid-19 Task Force Chairperson says that Mairungi is being illegally transported by long-distance cargo truck drivers who supply consumers who include security personnel in Elegu while retail dealers use the porous border points to sneak the substance into South Sudan.
The admitted drivers; one who was heading to Kampala and another who was heading to Kenya, had entered the country through Elegu Border Post. Upon posting positive results, they were tracked and intercepted from Kamdini Town Council and taken to Lira Regional Referral Hospital Mental Unit for treatment.
Bosco Odong a resident of Arukutuma village in Lagile Parish, Awere sub county died last night, shortly after being referred to the hospital in critical condition for emergency medical treatment.
The 33 who came in contact with him include 17 females and 16 males. Five of these people have been classified as high-risk contacts because they were in direct contact with the driver, the other 28, were indirect contacts and have therefore been classified as low risk.
Patients requiring services are now being advised to access nearby health facilities which include Anyangatir HCIII, Ober HCIII, PAG HCIII and Akitenino HCII.
