Hundreds of people attended the commissioning of a 4.5B UGX satellite laboratory built by the Ministry of Health at Lira Regional Referral Hospital in Lira City. The attendees were filled with joy and excitement as they saw their own daughter, Hon. Minister Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, together with Ministry of Health P/S Dr. Diana Atwine, joining the community at Old Akii-Bua Stadium for a colorful event to mark the opening of the satellite laboratory.
ARCC Boney Ferdinand Alele, who was the MC at the ceremony, enhanced the event with various gifts for three outstanding women who expressed their admiration for Minister Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng through poetry.
According to Lira RCC Lawrence Emmy Egole, Lira Regional Referral Hospital is now well-equipped with a variety of medical and diagnostic instruments designed to enhance patient care, research, and support public health standards. He credited the wonderful development to Minister of Health Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, the Woman MP of Lira City.
Minister Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng stated that the satellite laboratory is equipped with PCR machines for amplifying DNA/RNA to detect infectious diseases such as cancer, HIV, hepatitis, COVID-19, and genetic disorders, among others. Meanwhile, Dr. Aceng cautioned health workers against mistreating patients, emphasizing the importance of discipline, respect, and compassionate care for all patients.
The Director (Ag) of Lira Regional Referral Hospital, Dr. Andrew Odur, the Acting LRRADirector, said that beginning in June 2025, the facility will implement digitalization. “This advancement will eliminate the need for patients to bring physical health record books, as healthcare professionals will use computers to document health data,” Dr. Odur said.
However, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Diana Atwine, noted that the facility will support research for better service delivery. Atwine explained that researchers at Lira University will be able to use this laboratory for research without sending their samples to Kampala. She encouraged the community to make good use of this facility, highlighting that the laboratory’s machines can test for cancer, various viruses, and bacteria, along with determining appropriate treatments. She also urged people to stop buying drugs from drug shops and instead visit the hospital for proper diagnosis.
While commissioning the facility, Minister of Health Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng Ochero, who also serves as the Lira City Woman MP, stated that the unit is further equipped with microscopes for analyzing tissue samples and microbiological specimens to diagnose diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis. It also includes centrifuges for separating blood components for various diagnostic tests, including histology (cancer screening) and biochemistry, among others.
Doi Fred, Chairperson of the Lira City Chamber of Commerce, thanked Dr. Jane Aceng for such a significant development that can serve the Lango, Acholi, West Nile, and Karamoja sub-regions. He also expressed his support for Dr. Aceng, stating that she should go unopposed.
