KICUKIRO - Health Minister Richard Sezibera and the Chinese Ambassador to Rwanda, Sun Shuzong, yesterday lay a stone foundation at a site in Masaka Sector, Kicukiro District, where a multi-million hospital funded by the People’s Republic of China will be constructed.

Ground  work has already begun for the ultra-modern health facility which will have 100-patients beds, provide outpatient and inpatient services as well as an Anti-Malaria research centre.

The Polyclinic which will also boast of an ambulance department, a mortuary and an incinerator is expected to be completed in two years. The hospital will be an addition to the few referral hospitals in the country.

"On behalf of the Government of Rwanda and the people of Kicukiro District, we would like to welcome this project which will be vital in improving the health of the people in the district,” Sezibera said.

He added that there has been only one referral hospital in the district, Kanombe Military Hospital, which could not accommodate all the cases in the district which has one of the fastest growing populations.

Sezibera also commended the strong bilateral relations between Rwanda and China which grow ‘strong’ by the day, adding that he will soon be travelling to China to meet his Chinese counterpart to thank him for the different programmes the Chinese Health Ministry has contributed to in  Rwanda.

"Apart from this project, China has established and supported different anti-malaria research centres, we have signed a protocol which will see a group of Chinese health specialists come to Rwanda while ours (Rwandans) have also been sent to China to study,” Sezibera said as he highlighted different areas of cooperation.

Among others, China has also constructed a Nursing School in Ngoma District, Eastern Province, as well as an Anti-Malaria Research Centre in the same area.

"As you may all know, as one of the highest population densities in Africa, Rwanda considers its people as a fundamental resource for its future development. Therefore improvement in health services is critical in building a productive and efficient workforce,” said Chinese Ambassador, Sun Shuzong at the function.

He added: "China has long been committed to closer health cooperation with Rwanda.”

The Hospital project is one of the two US $10m projects China pledged to fund in the Ministries of Health and Agriculture.

The Mayor of Kicukiro, Paul Jules Ndamage, on behalf of Kicukiro residents who had gathered at the site commended China upon choosing the district as home of the magnificent structure which will provide standard health services in the district.

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