Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente has given the Ministry of Health a month to expeditiously kick-start the stalled construction of new structures at Kiziguro Hospital in Gatsibo District.

The Prime Minister and his delegation were on a one-day visit in three Eastern Province’s districts of Gatsibo, Kayonza and Rwamagana, to assess implementation of government’s programmes in four sectors of health, education, horticulture and industry.

The new hospital's construction has stalled, and officials are committed to solve it within one month

Founded in 1985 through government partnership with the Catholic Church, Kiziguro currently has 13 medical doctors and 63 nurses and midwives.

It serves 11 health centres.

Minister Dr Ngirente (L), with Dr Ndimubanzi, State Minister in Ministry of Health, and retired Catholic Bishop Syliverian Nzakamwita, in Kiziguro

The Prime Minister was appalled by the overcrowding at the hospital despite there being structures that are part of the hospital whose construction has since stalled.

By March 25, 2019, the Prime Minister said, progress should have been made on the remaining works on the buildings so that the hospital can move into new premises.

Officials said the new facility requires up to Rwf500 million to complete the remaining works.

The hospital is ''too old'' and official_s said they are going to work on it so they move to new buildings

Gilbert Bamporiki, a resident of Byagakombe Cell, Remera Sector, said that up to three people can share a single bed, which is a big challenge.

"There are risks of someone contracting diseases carried by other patients, hence making an already bad situation even worse,” said Bamporiki, who is admitted at the hospital.

"On the other hand, doctors try to offer the best services possible but are clearly inconvenienced too by the congestion,” he said.

Minister Dr Ngirente Eduard, with other officials during the visit

Dr Védaste Mbayire, the Director of the hospital, sounded upbeat, saying that a solution would now be sought given that the issue had gotten the attention of senior government officials.

The facility was upgraded from a health centre to a hospital in 1985.

"We have 87 beds, but admit 120 per cent of our capacity. A bed is supposed to accommodate one patient but it is different here,” he said.

He said that all parties had held a fruitful discussion and that he was confident the remaining works will be completed within the time requested by the Prime Minister.

"They promised to dispatch technicians from Rwanda Housing Authority to assess what is missing, what is needed, then the hospital management, government and the (Catholic) diocese will sit and solve it in a short period of time,” he said.

Dr Vedaste Mbayire, director general of Kiziguro Hospital in Gatsibo District

Dr Patrick Ndimubanzi, the Minister of State for Public Health and Primary Healthcare, said that the hospital buildings are dilapidated which affects the services offered.

"We have toured buildings under construction, and have discussed what is missing so they can relocate to the new buildings,” he explained.

He said that the beds are not the problem, but the buildings, "because the actual problem is where to put the beds.”

"The Prime Minister gave us one month to sort everything out,” he stated.

Gatsibo has 14 sectors and two hospitals, Ngarama and Kiziguro.

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