Egole Rallies Health Workers to Restore Public Trust in Government Hospitals

What the report says

Dokolo Post reports that Lira Resident City Commissioner Lawrence Egole has urged staff at Lira Regional Referral Hospital to help rebuild confidence in public health facilities by improving professionalism, compassion and integrity in patient care. He made the remarks during the hospital’s third public accountability meeting, or Baraza, in Lira, saying government investment in specialised care should be reflected in better service delivery and ethical conduct.

According to the report, Egole praised the Ministry of Health for expanding specialised services at the hospital, including a paediatric surgical theatre and a Level III neonatal intensive care unit, developments he said had reduced the need to refer some complex cases to Kampala. He also warned against absenteeism, extortion and poor handling of patients, and urged members of the public not to offer bribes to health workers.

The meeting also highlighted teenage pregnancy in the Lango sub-region. Hospital Director Dr Andrew Odur said the area has one of the country’s highest teenage pregnancy rates, at about 20 percent. Dr Bagala John Paul, representing the Ministry of Health, called for stronger community action, early antenatal care and skilled birth attendance, while local leaders urged wider public education and enforcement against men who impregnate underage girls.

Other issues raised included poor road access around the hospital and medical waste management. Lira City Deputy Mayor Rebecca Alwedo Ogole said road maintenance near the referral hospital would start within two weeks. Dr Odur said the hospital receives about 1,000 patients daily and is expected to recruit 153 additional staff and raise its number of specialists to 35 by the end of the current financial year.