Lira, Uganda | Health workers at Lira Regional Referral Hospital have been urged to embrace teamwork, professionalism and compassion in order to improve healthcare service delivery and position the facility among the best hospitals in the country.
The call was made by the Bishop Emeritus of West Lango Diocese, Rt Rev. Alfred Acur Okodi, during the hospital’s inaugural Prayer Breakfast held on Wednesday at the hospital premises in Lira City.
Speaking as the chief celebrant, Okodi commended the hospital management and staff for their commitment to serving patients but challenged them to strengthen collaboration in addressing gaps within the health system.
He noted that healthcare workers have a divine responsibility to restore health and save lives, adding that their knowledge and skills should be used to positively transform communities.
According to the bishop, meaningful change at the hospital can only be achieved through collective effort involving doctors, nurses, administrators and spiritual leaders working towards a common goal.
The General Secretary of the Lango Religious Leaders Forum, Rev. Thomas Obong, echoed the message of unity, saying no individual succeeds alone and that institutions thrive when all stakeholders work together.
The Acting Director of Lira Regional Referral Hospital, Dr Andrew Odur, said the prayer breakfast was conceived by the hospital’s top management as an opportunity to thank God for the progress made and dedicate staff to God’s guidance as they begin implementing activities for the 2026/27 financial year.
Odur said the facility, which has served the region for more than 100 years, has registered significant growth in staffing levels, infrastructure and healthcare services over time.
He noted that the hospital is steadily progressing towards becoming one of the country’s leading referral facilities and urged staff to remain committed to quality service delivery in line with Ministry of Health policies.
The acting director highlighted some of the hospital’s achievements, including conducting more than 300,000 laboratory tests annually, carrying out over 10,000 surgical procedures and providing more than 200 dialysis sessions every month.
Despite the progress, he said there is still a need to strengthen and better organise the workforce to meet the increasing demand for healthcare services.
Odur also revealed that the hospital’s recently operationalised Intensive Care Unit (ICU) has begun yielding positive results, with three out of every five critically ill patients surviving and returning home.
He appealed to religious leaders, community members and other stakeholders to continue supporting the hospital’s efforts to improve healthcare services in the region.
Held under the theme, “Delivering Quality Healthcare Through Hard Work and Compassion,” the maiden prayer breakfast attracted hospital staff and religious leaders from across Lango.
Among those who attended were Rev. Fr. Dr Peter Clever Ongom, Rev. Silvanus Ogwal of Pentecostal Assemblies of God, Sheikh Yusuf Balinda of Lango Supreme Muslim District Administration, Prof. Opio Okaka Dokotum and Pastor Paul Egwar.
The event began with prayers, worship and thanksgiving as staff gathered early in the morning to reflect on the hospital’s achievements and seek divine guidance for the year ahead.
