Residents of Rulindo District will no longer decry shortage of medical facilities following the construction of a new hospital in Ngoma sector. The hospital is being constructed by the Ministry of Health.

The   state of the art facility, whose construction started early last year, is expected to replace Rutongo Hospital upon completion.

"I may not point out the exact date of completion, but all I can say is that last touches are being put on the first phase,” remarked Dr Theophile Dushime, the director general of clinical services at the Ministry of Health in an interview with The New Times.

Emmanuel Ntaganda, 45, a resident of Kinzuzi sector, said the new hospital is a positive  development.

"To get to Rutongo hospital meant travelling for about 13 kilometres. We hope the new hospital will solve this problem,” Ntaganda said.

He said the only medical facility they had in the vicinity was Remera Health Centre which was always overwhelmed by patients, forcing many people to resort to herbs.

"The establishment has also attracted water and electricity amenities to the area,” he noted.

Pelagie Mujawamaliya, the Director of Remera Health Centre which is set to be merged with the new hospital , was also in an upbeat mood.

"I remember the days when we had to use a paraffin lamp in the maternity ward to help  mothers give birth. Electricity has brought relief to the area,” Mujawamaliya said.

"A jerry can of water went for as much as Rwf500. It became extremely difficult for us to ensure cleanliness and hygiene on our premises, but this ended ever since piped water came to our area,” she added.

Jean d’Amour Manirafasha, the director of health services at Rulindo District, said the new hospital will provide services Rutongo was not providing, for instance, certain complex  surgery and scanning services.  

This facility is the second of its kind in the district following the launch of Kinihira Hospital in 2012.