St. Mary’s Hospital Lacor, located in Gulu City, is experiencing a concerning rise in medical admissions due to liver complications. The medical unit at the hospital has noted a significant increase in cases of liver diseases, primarily cirrhosis of the liver.
This condition, characterized by permanent scarring that impairs liver function and may lead to liver failure, has become a leading cause of mortality in the hospital’s medical ward.
Dr. Jackson Kansiime, the Deputy Medical Director of Lacor Hospital and head of Clinical Services, shared during an interview that they are admitting a minimum of two cirrhosis patients daily. This condition is particularly prevalent among middle-aged individuals, with men constituting the majority of cases.
Over the past five years, cirrhosis has become a major health burden at the hospital, posing a significant challenge to healthcare professionals. Factors contributing to this alarming trend include alcohol consumption and the consequences of chronic Hepatitis B.
Unregulated alcohol consumption in the Acholi region, where the hospital is located, is an area of concern highlighted by Betty Aol Ocan, the Gulu City Woman Member of Parliament. To address the surge in liver complications, curbing excessive alcohol intake becomes a critical public health goal.
Beyond liver-related challenges, St. Mary’s Hospital Lacor also faces a range of other health burdens. These include HIV-related issues, such as Tuberculosis, and non-communicable diseases like diabetes, stroke, high blood pressure, kidney failure, and heart failure. These combined health challenges place significant pressure on the hospital’s medical unit and healthcare resources.
Owned by the Catholic Church, Lacor Hospital is the largest healthcare facility in the Northern region of Uganda. Serving patients from the Acholi sub-region, as well as parts of West Nile, Lango, and South Sudan, it plays a vital role in providing healthcare services to a large population.