FORMER ST. MARY`S HOSPITAL LACOR ED, DR. CYPRIAN OPIRA LAID TO REST

Archbishop P’Mony Wokorach Raphael together with other priests receiving the body of the late Dr. Cyprian at the prayer ground in Lacor Hospital on November 9, 2024. Photo by Desire Alimocan
 
By Desire Alimocan
 
Gulu City
 
Hundreds of mourners from across Acholi Subregion and beyond last Saturday thronged St. Mary`s Hospital Lacor for the burial of the former Executive Director and the only radiology specialist in the whole of Northern Uganda at the time of his death, Dr. Cyprian Opira popularly known as Dr. CP.

During the requiem Mass presided over by the Archbishop of Gulu Archdiocese, P’Mony Raphael Wokorach, the prelate encouraged the medical workers to emulate Dr. Cyprian’s love and compassion to the patients during his time on earth.

“For all our medical personnel who are here and who work in other places, heal the sick, make the sick become the reason of your being and love them, Dr. Cyprian has shown that, and by coming here, am sure something of him will remain with you and you carry it forward as a way of example, Profession is not the end of everything, Many people are professionally good, excellent, but they may lack the love that calms everything and makes everything beautiful, that makes everything blessed in the eyes of God, that turns pains into moments of Joy, When you handle your patients with love, their pains will reduce, your simple smile becomes a big consolation for them,” he stressed.

The Chairperson for Ethics and Professional Growth at Uganda Medical Bureau, Dr. Freddie Oyat Walter cautioned the medical personnel against corruption. “You are supposed to dispense medicine to patients and you hide that medicine in your bag and you take it home and sell it, you are not being compassionate, we have heard of this,” he remarked.

Before his burial, Gulu City Council on Friday, November 8, 2024 paid tribute to late Dr. Cyprian in an emergency council sitting.

While in the sitting, the council members proposed to do a lot of things in memory of late Dr. Cyprian Opira, among them were the naming a road, roundabout, facilities and building a monument in Gulu City.
 
Laroo-Pece East Councilor 4 Odong Morris, Gulu City Speaker Alima Joyce Reeney,
Deputy Speaker Akena Lamech Lambert, and Deputy City Clerk Benard Opolot,
Laroo-Pece Nort Councilor, Andrew Otto Ogwetta (back) laying the wreath
and paying their last respect to Dr. Cyprian in the City Council Hall on November 8, 2024. 

However, the Deputy City Clerk, Benard Opolot pledged to follow up that all those proposals are implemented. “As the implementing arm of council resolutions, I do make commitment to follow up on the proposals made by council in honor of the late Dr. Cyprian for implementation in liaison with your office, honorable speaker. I pledge to make ardent follow up as an administration,” he said.

The late Dr. Cyprian Opira died from Mulago Hospital on October 30, 2024, after suffering from a condition related to stroke for five years. He has left a widow with four daughters, one son and one grandson.