Lira—28, August 2020: A ray of hope is now shining across Lango sub-region as government resuscitates the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Lira University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).
Lango sub-region has nine districts of Amolatar, Dokolo, Kwania, Apac, Otuke, Lira, Oyam, Alebtong, Otuke and Kole with a population of nearly 3 million people, all served by Lira Regional Referral Hospital and Lira University Teaching Hospital.
It should also be noted that the rest of the districts have only Health Center IV facilities, not a hospital status, and often most cases are referred to Lira.
However, unlike at LUTH, the ICU at LRRH remained a white elephant for years due to lack of equipment and medical experts, including specialists.
But recently, Health Minister Dr Jane Ruth Aceng announced that the ICU would be revamped.
On Friday, 28 August 2020, her words came to pass. Some critical machines Dr Jane promised was to secure was an ICT scan machine.
The whole of this week, Lango has been ‘hosting Ministry of Health Headquarters’.
“This notion is evidenced by the fact the Minister, the Permanent Secretary, Dr Diana Atwine, and the Director General of Health Services, Dr Henry G. Mwebesa together with other Commissioners are stationed here,” TND News’ Frank Oyugi reports.
The team has toured all the health facilities across Lango sub-region on a basis of technical support supervision in a bid to identify gaps at these facilities for government intervention.
Meanwhile, Associate Professor Opio Okaka Dokotum who’s the Deputy Vice Chancellor In charge Academic Affairs Lira University, said: “The high-powered delegation from Ministry of Health led by Hon. Minister for Health Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng included the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Diana Atwine, the Director General Medical Services, and several commissioners.”
He added: “They paid glowing tribute to Lira University Teaching Hospital, the First of its kind in Uganda and the Management of Lira University. They pledged to support the Hospital in its endeavour to train health services workers, promote teaching and research, and provide clinical services and patient care.”
While in Ogur, both Minister, Dr Jane Aceng and Permanent Secretary, Dr Diana Atwine called on health workers to have a passion for their work and to be ethical while handling patients
“Be kind and nice to these patients when they come, sometimes only your kind words are even enough to heal them,” the duo advised, in a similar statement.
Discover more from tndNews, Uganda
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.