60 years of Lacor Hospital

On Friday June 21, Ambassador Fornara hosted the celebrations marking the 60th Anniversary of St Mary’s Hospital in Lacor (Gulu) at the Italian Residence. Lacor’s Director General – Dr. Cyprian Opira, the President of Corti Foundation – Dr. Dominique Corti, the senior staff of the Hospital, Ugandan Authorities, various personalities of the diplomatic corps and the civil societies were present. The Ministry of Health was represented by the Director General of Health, Dr. Henry Mwebesa, who read a message from the Minister – Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng.
Founded by the couple Piero and Lucille Corti in 1959, Lacor Hospital, is considered one of the pillars of the Italian-Ugandan friendship. Over the years, from a small 40-bed dispensary it has become one of the main health referrals in Uganda and in the region with nearly 500 beds and 700 Ugandan employees.
During the civil war in northern Uganda, the hospital was also distinguished for hosting tens of thousands of people, mostly women and children, to whom the Hospital gates were opened every night to offer them protection from the assaults and abductions of the Lord Resistance Army rebels. Furthemore, Lacor has also been at the forefront during the Ebola outbreaks. During the heroism of Dr. Matthew Lukwiya was remembered and that of the twelve Hospital staff members who died for their efforts to tackle the Ebola epidemic that struck Uganda in 2000.
Over the years, the Italian Cooperation has offered support to the Hospital and is currently funding a project to strengthen the quality of paediatric services through Results Based Financing
For more information about St Mary’s Hospital in Lacor, see the Corti Foundation website

Pictures of the event