Soroti  Regional Referral Hospital Receives Shs12 Billion  Medical  Equipment donation from Japan.

By Peterson Hiirya.

Soroti Regional Referral Hospital (SRRH) has received medical equipment worth approximately Shs12 billion from the Government of Japan through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), in a major boost to healthcare services in the Teso sub-region.

The equipment was officially commissioned during a ceremony attended by the Japanese Ambassador to Uganda, officials from the Ministry of Health, technical staff, and leaders from the region.

Dr Joseph Epodoi , who represented the hospital director as Senior Executive Consultant, described the commissioning as the final phase of a nine-year process that has involved planning, procurement, and installation

“Today has been a great day for Soroti Regional Referral Hospital,” he said, noting that most departments have benefited from the upgrade.

The new equipment has been distributed across Outpatients, Accident and Emergency, Maternity, Surgical Theatre, Radiology, Medical Ward, Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, Physiotherapy, Orthopedics, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Ophthalmology and ENT, among others.

Dr Epodoi said the hospital had long struggled with obsolete equipment despite evolving disease patterns that require modern diagnostic and treatment technology. Most of the newly installed machines are electronic and incorporate advanced technology.

Among the major improvements is the hospital’s new capacity to perform endoscopy to examine the oesophagus and stomach for early disease detection.

Eye care services have also been enhanced with improved diagnostic capability, while the physiotherapy department is now better equipped to manage chronic back pain and other complex conditions.

The Director of Health Services at the Ministry of Health, Dr Joseph Okware, represented Permanent Secretary Dr Diana Atwiine at the ceremony and conveyed apologies from her and Health Minister Dr Jane Ruth Aceng for their absence due to official commitments.

Dr. Okware said discussions for the support began during the COVID-19 pandemic when Uganda faced severe shortages of medical supplies.

He noted that Soroti was prioritised due to longstanding equipment and infrastructure gaps. He commended hospital management for renovating installation space using about Shs350 million from internal funds and said JICA would provide technical support for three years.

Soroti City West MP-elect and NRM National Vice Chairperson for Eastern Region David Calvin Echodu welcomed the donation, describing health as the foundation of development. He pledged to lobby government leaders, including the Vice President and Speaker of Parliament, to support infrastructure expansion at the hospital.

The Ministry of Health expressed gratitude to the government and people of Japan, saying the equipment will improve service delivery, staff morale, and health outcomes in the region.