King Faisal Hospital’s Board Chairman, Dr. Innocent Nyaruhirira, has said the hospital was encouraging the employment of nurses from other countries as a way of boosting its capacity.

"We did not just go for Kenyan nurses because we wanted to. We needed quality nurses who have expertise in many fields, to improve the hospital standards,” Dr Nyaruhirira told The New Times.

He added that Rwanda has no centre that gives nurses the same expertise.

"Kigali Health Institute trains nurses but these nurses need specialisation in some fields. That is the reason we went for the Kenyans,” he explains.

The Director of Continuing Quality, Claire Karibika, said that the hospital is dealing with specialisation, and is seeking the accreditation of the Council for Health Service Accreditation of Southern Africa (COHSASA).

She added that by the end of next year, the hospital will undergo evaluation in order to join the body that will make KFH meet international standards.

"Yes, if you want good quality, you pay for it. We wanted competent nurses,” Karibika emphasised.

Since 1998, KFH has been providing a high level of general medical care.

One of the hospital’s prime objectives is to reduce the need for Rwandans to travel abroad for medical care.

"Look, we have to be humble and accept those with expertise since. We are in the East African community. We employed 32 Kenyan nurses and sent 30 Rwandan nurses for specialisation,” Agnes Uwayezu, the director of nurses said.

King Faisal hospital was constructed in 1991 with support from the Saudi Fund for Development.

It originally served as a polyclinic and later as a general hospital due to lack of medical specialists.

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