ARUA REGIONAL REFERRAL HOSPITAL’S NEW BOARD SWORN IN WITH CALL TO REVOLUTIONIZE PATIENT CARE AND SERVICE DELIVERY

State Minister of Health, Health stakeholders, Arua City leaders, Partners, security team and Arua regional referral hospital staffs posing for group photo after the inauguration (Photos by Onzoma Albert)

By Onzoma Albert

Arua City

The newly appointed 13-member Management Board for Arua Regional Referral Hospital has been inaugurated and sworn into office. During the ceremony, government officials and health stakeholders issued a strong directive to the new board members to prioritize service delivery, elevate patient care standards, and aggressively focus on reorganizing the facility to bring about positive institutional changes.

The event was presided over by His Worship Conrad Obol Oroya, Chief Magistrate of Arua Magisterial area and acting registrar of Arua High Court, who appealed to the board members to honor the oath they had taken to serve their people.

Hon. Hanifa Kawooya Bangirana, the State Minister of Health in charge of general duties, appointed the Arua City Mayor as an Ex-officio member of the board, representing the people. She urged the board to focus on service delivery and patient care throughout their tenure.

“Your number one focus should be on service delivery and patient care even if we have all this infrastructures in place but when we are not offering expected and qualitative service health care we are wasting our time because patient care is very paramount” she said.

His Worship Lawrence Alionzi, Arua City Mayor, also appealed to the newly sworn-in board to concentrate on improving service delivery at the regional referral facility, pledging the full support of the Arua City Council to the board.

“Ministers visit this afternoon communicates that we have a lot of work to do in many areas at the facility, I want to trust that it will not take a minister for the hospital to function as it is supposed to do, but Dr Gilbert and the new board that you can count on the support of Arua City Council as you will be doing your work and let us work together just like the minister has shown us” he said.

Dr. Wadria Baker Ronald, the newly sworn-in board chairman, taking oath of allegiance and secrecy.

Dr. Wadria Baker Ronald, the newly sworn-in board chairman, expressed gratitude to the appointing authority for entrusting the board with the responsibility of serving the people of the West Nile region. He pledged the board’s commitment to serve diligently.

“Our work is going to exhibit the following humility, integrity, transparency, accountability and team spirit for us strategies to the hospital management so that the hospital is able to provide quality health care services all Ugandans deserve” he said.

The incoming leadership faces the critical tasks of navigating significant transitions and resolving persistent operational challenges at the hospital.

The board is expected to enforce strict professional standards aimed at eliminating issues such as staff absenteeism, weak performance management, and resource leakages. A major focus will be addressing the hospital’s severe human resource shortage, a challenge underscored by recent assessments revealing that the facility has been operating with only a small fraction of its approved staffing structure.

This new oversight body assumes office during a period of remarkable infrastructure expansion at the hospital. This follows the commissioning of a Shs10.9 billion, seven-story staff housing block intended to improve health worker welfare and response times, along with modern emergency and outpatient buildings. Board members are urged to coordinate effectively with lower-level health centers across the West Nile sub-region to manage and decongest the hospital’s massive patient load efficiently.

Dr. Aniku Gilbert Arua Regional Referral Hospital senior executive consultant/Hospital Director and new board secretary taking oath of allegiance and secrecy during their inauguration ceremony at the hospital in Arua city.

The Management Board comprises Dr. Wadria Baker Ronald from Arua City as chairman; Dr. Amandua Jacinto from Terego district; Dr. Bramali Mark Bonny from Zombo district as Ex-officio/Member; Dr. Ocaatre Ronald Miria from the Ministry of Health; lawyer Piwang Comfort from Pakwach district; Draru Jane Obuni from Madi Okollo district; Tabu Suzan, Arua RRH senior principal nursing officer as staff representative; Dr. Aniku Gilbert Arua, RRH senior executive consultant and Hospital Director, as secretary; Engineer Biyomotho Jimmy from Nebbi district; Angujeru Pacutho Betty, Principal of Arua School of Comprehensive Nursing and Midwifery as Ex-officio; Dr. Sseguya Simon Peter, Arua RRH pharmacist as Ex-officio; Muhindo Luis Ngobi, Arua RRH principal hospital administrator as Ex-officio; and David Kyasanku, former Arua City town clerk who is to be replaced by Vincent Okuruti, the new Arua City town clerk.

The new management board at Arua Regional Referral Hospital has been formally sworn in with clear directives to enhance patient care and institutional efficiency. Their mandate includes addressing staffing shortages, improving professional standards, and leveraging recent infrastructure expansions to better serve the West Nile region’s population. Coordination with regional health centers is also emphasized to manage the growing patient demands effectively.

Written by newsroom-radiopacis