Moroto Regional Referal Hospital, a Story of the Cross and Golgotha

THIS blog couldn’t go idle for long any more. Not any longer. Friday night was the right time and the mighty Mt Moroto Hotel was the place. There was time! Enough of it.  Moroto Regional Referral Hospital affair.

The Last Supper: Outgoing Director, Dr. Alex Andema (L) and
incoming director Dr Nyeko (R) cut a cake during the send off

It was thrilling, enlightening, and also heartrending in the chill and with the occasional warm breeze, a natural blessing from speckled shrubs at the foot of the only Mountain in semi-arid Karamoja. Boy, where were you? You could have experienced this tear-jerking moment where members saw the transfer of power from one big boss to another big boss.

Hospital Director Dr. Alex Andema who has served in the 83 year old Hospital for some daunting years handed over the instruments of leadership to new signing Dr. Nyeko a surgeon formally saving lives at Mbale Hospital. Here was a send off as well as a well come in party for the two medical goliaths.

 

Allow me submit that both Dr. Andema and his successor Dr. Nyeko are demonstrably very intelligent human beings.  My impression about this partly came from their speeches on this particular occasion.

Dr. Nyeko’s long speech dwelled mainly on the need to have a strong team where support from his staff is essential. Where love and recognition/appreciation from the community within counts. Importantly, he shared his buoyancy to dare with the strenuous Karamoja environment and deliver to the fullest. He sounded grateful and yet you could equally tell that he looked awaken about the possible risk of carrying the big cross all the way to Golgotha.

My good friend Dr Alex Andema worked the audience with a nip of philosophy; He rightly said that there are only two places known for sticking to one thing. “It’s only in heaven where only good things are done and it’s only in hell where only bad things are done. Here on earth both bad and good things prevail, we only strive hard to try and do more of the good things than the bad things”, he observed on this cold night with a sip of cold Coca-Cola in a glass, not bear, not a Club. He was given a brand new Sumsung freezer in appreciation for his good service.

A send off gift: A sumsung Refregerator handed to the outgoing
Director    by Moroto  Resident District Commisioner,  Mr Pirir

Andema rightly noted that Moroto Hospital has made him a better person and he looks, walks assured that Kabale Hospital his new station will definitely harvest the fruits of his career development while in Karamoja. My appreciation of this man is for his humility, his admission that he experienced challenges and yet he also believes those difficulties are naturally unavoidable and can only be understood and minimized through openness and clear professional internal communication. I thought he is absolutely correct, and you reader?

Division Commander Brig Nakibus Lakara was on to make it clear- the realities that need to be altered.  Although it was party time, he couldn’t pocket the discreditable story of bedbugs reported in this giant government Hospital. Lakara observed that development in such a valued government institution ought to be holistic.

With the multibillion structures cropping up day and night, he begged of the managers of the Hospital to equally streamline services for the unwell who queue in for the free health services. Boy, this is how you expect practical men to speak. If this was America, Lakara’s signal could move mountains. Finally, in comparison he said the Military hospital in Moroto does better. Boy, Lakara did not deceive anyone.

Before that girl and before the boogie, Moroto Resident District Commissioner, Samuel Abura Pirir closed the door to speeches. Although Pirir wallowed and wallowed. He gave a perfect history of the Hospital and other health units in the whole of Karamoja. He couldn’t forget to mention the role of government and especially the NRM regime in making things better for today, for tomorrow and forever.

Outlining his achievement in health systems strengthening as a legislator then could simply make you feel that Pirir’s neck is still a Giraffe’s. He is definitely still looking into the future. He referred to the Almighty as, “God the creator” and in praise of a medical worker, he called that person,“God the repairer”.

One last thing; my good friend young, vibrant, Paul Odaka was voted best male staff, best surgical ward performer and boy, do you remember that brownish nurse? That nurse who simply smiles instead of quarrelling to pregnant women like most midwives of this world. That nurse who won’t blame ignorance for stupid mistakes on poor women. Do you remember her? That one that ensured little Mercy comes through to the World in perfect condition? She deservedly took home the award for best practitioner in the Maternity ward. Her ward –was also voted best section in Moroto Hospital.

LAST WORD: May God bless all those who dedicate their resources; materials, skills, prayers to protect the women and children of this world!

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