Lira Regional Referral Hospital is stepping up its preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. A team of its top managers, led by Senior Executive Consultant Dr Andrew Odur, travelled to Hoima Regional Referral Hospital to learn from a sister facility. The delegation was warmly received by Dr Ibrahim Bwaga and Canon Sabiti Mbabazi, the Hoima Hospital Board chairperson. This visit enables the two hospitals to exchange experiences and share best practices.
The engagement will advance Lira Hospital's readiness for the continental tournament, according to Dr Odur. Matches are expected at the Akii-Bua Olympic Stadium, which is still under construction. Lira City is preparing to host thousands of players and fans, raising the need for strong medical preparedness. Authorities in Lira City had earlier declared the hospital ready to handle medical emergencies during the games.
Lira Regional Referral Hospital has a bed capacity of between 400 and 456 and serves a catchment population of about three million people. The hospital had 17 specialists by March this year, including physicians, gynecologists, pediatricians, and surgeons. These specialists will play a crucial role in providing medical care during the tournament.
Dr Jane Ruth Aceng Ocero, the Lira City Woman Member of Parliament and former Health Minister, said the hospital is well-prepared to respond to emergencies. She stated that the Ministry of Health is working closely with other ministries to ensure adequate medical personnel and services are in place. The hospital also hosts the Regional Ambulance Dispatch Centre, which coordinates 12 ambulances serving nearly 100 health facilities.
Lira Hospital's Regional Ambulance Dispatch Centre helps improve emergency response times and access to care. The hospital also runs an oxygen plant that can produce up to 120 cylinders of medical oxygen daily. Its double-capacity technology allows it to fill cylinders while supplying oxygen directly to the hospital through a modern medical gas piping system.
Dr Odur confirmed that the hospital is well-equipped to meet medical needs during the tournament. However, he appealed to the government to deploy more ambulances to the region ahead of the games to strengthen emergency response capacity. He added that equipment and services introduced for AFCON should remain in place to support health services long after the tournament.
Uganda will co-host AFCON 2027 with Kenya and Tanzania under the "Pamoja Bid." The tournament is scheduled for June and July 2027 and will return AFCON to the CECAFA region for the first time since 1976. The preparations by Lira Hospital and other facilities will be crucial in ensuring a successful tournament.
Key points
- Lira Regional Referral Hospital is preparing for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations by benchmarking with Hoima Regional Referral Hospital.
- The hospital has a bed capacity of between 400 and 456 and serves a catchment population of about three million people.
- Dr Odur appealed to the government to deploy more ambulances to the region ahead of the games to strengthen emergency response capacity.
