Lira Regional Referral Hospital (LRRH) has commissioned the first endoscope machine in the Lango sub-region, a landmark investment expected to improve the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal diseases across the region.
An endoscope is a medical device system used to look inside the human body, featuring key components like an endoscope tube, a light source, and a video processor.
The machine enables doctors to examine the digestive tract using a flexible camera, allowing for early detection and treatment of conditions such as stomach ulcers, gastrointestinal bleeding, polyps, cancers, and other disorders affecting the esophagus, stomach, and intestines.
The equipment was procured with funding from the Ministry of Health and is expected to bring specialized endoscopy services closer to millions of people who previously had to travel to Kampala and other parts of the country for the procedures.
Health officials said the installation of the equipment marks a significant milestone in expanding specialized healthcare services in Northern Uganda.
Dr. Andrew Odur, the Senior Executive Consultant at the hospital, explained that the machine will improve timely diagnosis, reduce referrals to national referral hospitals, and lower the financial burden on patients who have been forced to travel long distances to access endoscopy services.
“But also, the endoscopy is going to provide us with an opportunity to do normal screening for a normal population,” he said.
Adding “if you have reached some critical age and you have strong risk factors of some of these conditions, we are encouraging that through our wellness program, you should be able to come, and we do a routine endoscopy so that we are able to look at your internal GI system and we are able to advise you on how to live thereafter.”
The new equipment will serve patients from the Lango, Acholi, West Nile and Karamoja sub-regions, strengthening Lira Regional Referral Hospital’s role as a regional Centre for specialized medical care. According to Dr. Odur, the services of the machine will not be free but affordable for everyone.
Jacob Ocen, a resident of Lira City, shared his experience when he fell ill and needed an endoscopy, which he could only access from Mulago National Referral Hospital. According to him, having the service at LRRH will improve care but, most importantly, cut costs incurred in traveling and accommodation in Kampala.
Besides improving patient care, the endoscopy machine is expected to enhance the training of health workers and build the hospital’s capacity to manage complex gastrointestinal conditions locally.
Dr. John Paul Bagala, the Assistant Commissioner Reproductive & Infant Health at the Ministry of Health, affirms the government’s commitment to strengthening Regional Referrals, saying that, in addition to the machine, the Ministry will deliver three delivery beds and a giant autoclave to the hospital to strengthen maternal health and sterilization services.
Bagala urged health workers to remain punctual, avoid absenteeism, and ensure medicines reach patients instead of being diverted.
Hospital management welcomed the Ministry of Health’s support, saying the investment reflects the government’s commitment to strengthening regional referral hospitals and ensuring equitable access to specialized healthcare services.
The commissioning of the endoscopy machine adds to a series of specialized services introduced at Lira Regional Referral Hospital in recent years as the facility continues to expand its capacity to provide advanced medical care closer to the communities it serves-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
