A modern laboratory at Lira regional referral hospital commissioned

15 March 2025, 8:33 am

By Byamukama Alozious

A state-of-the-art laboratory has been inaugurated at Lira Regional Referral Hospital, aiming to serve the nine districts of Lango. This development is expected to alleviate the burden of traveling to Mulago National Hospital in Kampala for diagnostic services.

The laboratory, equipped with various testing units and sample collection facilities, boasts advanced machinery such as the COBAS e411 and COBAS e311. These machines enable the investigation of various diseases.

The COBAS e411 makes tests for thyroid function tests, which investigate goiter through thyroid-stimulating hormone and other tests. It also tests for prostate cancer through prostate surface antigen, heart disease through hormones (troponins), enzymes (CKMB), among others.

The COBAS c311 tests for liver and kidney diseases, among others, through lipid profiles, electrolytes, and other tests.

Otim Samuel, technician and head of the chemistry section, highlighted the lab’s capacity to process 500 tests per hour using the COBAS c311 machine and 300 tests per hour with the COBAS e411. This increased efficiency is anticipated to reduce congestion and reliance on Mulago National Hospital.

The laboratory project was supported by the Uganda Covid-19 Response and Emergency Preparedness Project (UCREPP) through funding from the World Bank. Similar initiatives are nearing completion at Hoima Regional Hospital and Fort Portal Regional Hospital.

Minister of Health Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng who was the chief guest, emphasised the importance of preventive healthcare, saying, “This infrastructure, including the laboratory, ensures our people stay healthy. We’re promoting early screening, not waiting until someone falls ill.”

On the other hand the hospital has got a reliable oxygen plant, Dr. Aceng noted that the hospital has been relying on oxygen supplies from National Medical Stores (NMS) in Kampala, which has posed challenges in providing life support. However, with the new oxygen plant at Lira Regional Referral Hospital, this challenge is expected to come to an end.

“Once it starts working, it will fill thousands of cylinders per day and supply, even to the lower health centers. They will have oxygen. So that was the idea behind this,” Dr. Aceng added.

She expressed gratitude to the government for addressing Lango’s needs, highlighting various infrastructure developments, including a call dispatch center for monitoring ambulances, a functional oxygen plant, and improved road networks and electricity.

Dr. Aceng encouraged scrutiny of claims that the government has achieved nothing, citing these developments as evidence of progress.

She also called on health workers to adopt a good attitude towards their work, emphasising the importance of providing quality care to patients.

Permanent Secretary Diana Atwine said Lira University can use the lab for research without going to Kampala. The machines in the lab can test for cancer, every virus, all bacteria, and can determine which drug works for a patient and which one does not. She emphasised the need to trust health workers for quality services.

Atwine appreciated the people-centered approach of Lira health workers in delivering medical services. She also acknowledged the need to improve attitudes, bridge gaps, and isolate bad apples to regain trust in healthcare services.

Despite recent budget cuts from donors, Atwine assured that the government remains committed to providing healthcare services, emphasising the need to utilise resources efficiently and integrate services to fill gaps in healthcare.

Dr. Atwine called on the people of Lango to entrust government health services. She attributed the establishment of the laboratory to good leadership in the region, led by Minister of Health Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, who is also the Women MP of Lira city.