By Patrick Opio
Senior Communications Officer
More than 1,000 mothers and children received health services at the just concluded 3-day Maternal and Child Health Camp organised by Lira University Hospital.
The Hospital Clinical Director, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Okello Tom Richard said a total of 1,002 patients were worked on with 650 tests done in the labs, 402 ultra sound checks, 70 x-rays, 79 HIV/AIDS tests, 139 cervical cancer tests, 12 mothers received Family Planning services and 50 cases of Antennal healthcare.
He was presenting the Camp report at the closing ceremony on 17th October 2025.
According to Prof. Okello, other services offered during the Camp were 150 mothers screened for cancer of the breast, children’s varied health status assessed, treated and theatre team doing 17 surgeries.
He added, “All mothers were taught the appropriate way of cooking to improve nutrition, for example avoid over cooking greens as the practice destroys the nutrients required by the body.”
“The Camp was very successful, with funds donation from Poole Africa Link to purchase another medical equipment,” he said.
Poole Africa Link is a charity that sends highly skilled doctors, nurses, and midwives to Lira University, twice a year to further the education of other healthcare professionals in the Teaching Hospital.
Vice Chancellor, Prof. Jasper Ogwal Okeng addressing Camp Team on 17th October 2025
“Our health team and others have made Lira University proud, they have shown that we can manage huge numbers of patients that may visit the hospital any time,” Dr. Okello applauded.
Lira City Mayor, Hon. Sam Atul urged the Management of Lira university to organise two health camps every year to ensure effective health service delivery to the people in the region.
“We have witnessed the overwhelming response by mothers seeking treatment during the Camp period. The idea of the camps taking place twice a year should be there and we see how to get the money to facilitate the camps. We are happy the university is working tirelessly to sell the region to the world,” he said.
To improve health service performance in the region, Hon. Atul said, Lira University has teamed up with the Ministry of Health to construct blood bank, regional Cancer institute and Heart Institute at the university land. “We are looking forward and working together to see that the university is supported by Lira City Council and other government entities for a steadfast development,” he said.
Vice Chancellor, Prof. Jasper Ogwal Okeng praised healthcare workers at the Hospital for the job well done. “I am extremely happy with the health team, you have done it very well, please continue with the spirit of team work for us to reach the highest levels in health service delivery,” he said.
Prof. Ogwal Okeng was proud to announce that Lira University products are competent and offering the best services in their work places. “Our graduates get out with full knowledge and practical skills, they are shining and they are even creating jobs for others. They are performing very well, given the teaching and training background we offer to them while here. They are rendering effective services to their respective communities,” he said.
On the Hospital services, Prof. Ogwal said, we offer the best treatment, cheap and affordable by all including the rural poor. “Our magnificent, beautiful storey Hospital building scares, causing fear to patients that we are expensive…this is not true, we are very cheap and affordable, with the best health services offered,” he explained.
He said there is a plan to upgrade the Teaching Hospital to a Center for Medical Tourism. “We shall attract national and international medical personnel to come and offer health training here. We are looking at medical tourism, the reason we will upgrade the hospital and offer specialized health services,” he asserted.
Prof. Ogwal Okeng lauded Lira City Council for supporting Lira University in many areas of development including road side lighting.
Dean Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery Faculty, Ms Anna Grace Auma lauded the Center for International Reproductive Health Training (CIRHT) for funding the event. “We are happy with the funder, CIRHT, they have always been with us in the healthcare services and other projects,” she said.
She also commended the Medical Team for doing wonders in attending to the huge numbers of patients as others(mothers) were still being handled even after the end of the exercise. “God will reward you for being professional and skilful in saving lives,” she said.
The Camp ran from 15th to 17th October 2025 at the Hospital. The services offered free of charge to clients included cervical cancer screening, fertility and infertility consultations, fistula, prolapse screening, antenatal services, postnatal services, family planning and post-abortion care services, immunization, nutritional assessment and screening for malnutrition, HIV/AIDS counselling and testing and other sexual and reproductive issues and general gynaecological surgeries.
