A modern maternity ward that will have a capacity to accommodate up to 100 expectant mothers is under construction at Kabutare Hospital. The new wing, worth Rwf858 million, and expected to be completed in August 2016, will allow the Huye District based facility to offer better health services to expectant mothers.

"Currently, we cannot even receive more than 60 mothers without having them share a bed. We hope the new maternity ward will solve this issue,” said Dr Saleh Niyonzima, the director of Kabutare Hospital.

Dr Niyonzima was speaking to journalists during a news conference in Huye District on Wednesday.

On the number of midwives, he said there were enough midwives at the hospital. However, he highlighted the issue in the district health centres.

"There are 14 midwives in Huye District, which means one midwife serves 23,000 people, which goes above the Ministry of Health’s target of one midwife per 25,000 people by 2018. We probably reached this target, but each health centre should at least have a midwife,” he said, adding that more graduates would help health centres get midwives as well.

"Maternity services are sensitive. There is a need to increase the number and capacities of midwives at health centres so that expectant mothers get treated by skilled workers,” he said.

However, he said Kabutare lacks enough medical personnel as the number of patients outstrips the available medics.

"Kabutare Hospital receives between 100 and 120 patients seeking medical consultation everyday. If you give 30 patients to one doctor per day, you will need about four medics for out patient consultations. But, there are other doctors to follow up admitted patients inside the hospital who are not less than 180 per day. So, it is difficult to get four medics in out patient and about five medics in various services in the hospital and others to work during the night shift or carry out other assignments,” he complained.

Kabutare is one of the three hospitals testing and treating acute tuberculosis in the Country. The others are Kibagabaga and Kibungo Hospital.

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