The Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of West Lango, Rt. Rev. Alfred Acur Okodi, has called on health workers and administrators at Lira Regional Referral Hospital (LRRH) to embrace teamwork and pursue excellence in healthcare service delivery.
Speaking as the chief celebrant during the hospital’s inaugural Prayer Breakfast held on Wednesday at the hospital parking grounds, Bishop Okodi commended the management and staff for their commitment to improving healthcare services but challenged them to strengthen collaboration in addressing inefficiencies and enhancing patient care.
Bishop Okodi, who also serves as the Anglican Community Chaplain, emphasized that healthcare professionals are entrusted with a divine responsibility to restore health and save lives.
He urged them to use their God-given talents to positively impact patient outcomes and improve the quality of healthcare services.
“No single individual can transform this hospital alone. Success depends on the collective efforts of doctors, nurses, administrators, support staff, and religious leaders working together in unity,” Bishop Okodi said.
The General Secretary of the Lango Religious Leaders Forum, Rev. Thomas Obong, echoed the call for teamwork, noting that meaningful achievements can only be realized through collective effort.
“No one is a hero alone. We must work together, celebrate everyone’s contribution, and focus on accomplishing the tasks before us,” Rev. Obong said.
In his remarks, the Acting Director of Lira Regional Referral Hospital, Dr. Andrew Odur, said the idea of the prayer breakfast was conceived by the hospital’s top management as a platform to thank God for the institution’s achievements and dedicate staff to God’s guidance as they prepare to serve the public in the 2026/27 financial year.
Dr. Odur highlighted the hospital’s remarkable growth over the years, citing improvements in staffing levels, infrastructure, and the overall health system.
“A hospital that has existed for more than 100 years has witnessed many milestones, including increased staffing, improved infrastructure, and a strengthened healthcare system,” he said.
He noted that Lira Regional Referral Hospital is steadily positioning itself among the leading healthcare institutions in Uganda and urged staff to remain committed to achieving that vision in line with Ministry of Health policies.
According to Dr. Odur, the hospital currently conducts more than 300,000 laboratory tests annually, performs over 10,000 surgical operations, and provides more than 200 dialysis sessions every month.
Despite these achievements, he emphasized the need for a more organized and efficient workforce to meet the growing demand for services.
He also highlighted the success of the hospital’s newly operational Intensive Care Unit (ICU), revealing that three out of every five critically ill patients who would previously have had slim chances of survival are now recovering and returning home.
“I was delighted to learn that three out of five critically ill patients who might otherwise have been declared dead have walked home alive and healthy after receiving care in our newly functional ICU,” Dr. Odur said.
He called upon religious leaders, community leaders, and the public to continue supporting the hospital’s efforts to improve healthcare services.
“The message we want the public to hear is that this hospital is on a trajectory to become one of the best in the country. We ask for your continued spiritual support and partnership as we work to position Lira Regional Referral Hospital among the leading healthcare institutions in Uganda,” he added.
Held under the theme, ‘Delivering Quality Healthcare through Hard Work and Compassion,’ the inaugural Prayer Breakfast brought together hospital staff and religious leaders from across the Lango sub-region under the umbrella of the Lango Religious Leaders Forum.
