Officials and eye patients have welcomed the newly-upgraded eye clinic at Ruhengeri Hospital, expected to increase access to eye treatment.

The Ruhengeri Vision Centre, inaugurated on Tuesday, was completed at a cost of $400,000 (about Rwf290 million).

Its construction, installation of equipment and other requirements were sponsored by Onesight, a non-profit organisation.

Dr Deo Ndekezi, the director of Ruhengeri Hospital, said the facility would help the hospital treat various eye diseases unlike previously when it was compelled to refer many patients to other hospitals.

He hailed Onesight for the support and promised improved services to patients.

Mony Iyer, Onesight’s senior director for strategy and innovation, said the new facility would act as pilot project before it is taken to the rest of the country.

He said the initiative aims at supporting the health sector, especially ophthalmology department which faces many challengers, from lack of medical experts to modern equipment.

"This is a pilot project that will work until December at Ruhengeri Hospital, then Onesight organisation will hold talks with the Ministry of Health to see ways to open other vision centres in other hospitals,” Iyer said.

Treatment will be provided to all patients with community health insurance, commonly known as Mutuelle de Santé, but it will be affordable to many, according to Iyer.

Eye glasses will be provided at between Rwf5,000 and Rwf30,000, which officials said will be lower than the normal price.

Dr Jean Baptiste Mazarat, the head of medical service at Rwanda Biomedical Centre, said Onesight organisation was committed to supporting the health sector.

"We don’t have enough ophthalmologists, we have only 20 specialists in 42 district hospitals countrywide. Most of eye patients suffer from the cataract but the facility will not treat cataract but other eye diseases,” said Mazarat.

Hemed Nibizi, one of the eye patients, said he used to travel to Kigali for treatment but was optimistic that with new centre, he will receive health services at the hospital.

"I have suffered from eye defects for over 15 years and most of the times I was refereed to Kigali. This was too expensive, I am so grateful that now I can access the service at this hospital,” he said.

Ruhengeri Hospital in Musanze District is among the hospitals in the process to become referral hospitals.