KARONGI - The Ministry of Health has officially opened a department for treating mental illness at Kibuye Hospital.
The fully equipped mental clinic was commissioned last week by the Health Minister, Dr. Richard Sezibera, as part of activities to mark World Mental Health Day.

Earlier, before commissioning the facility, Dr. Sezibera inspected the entire hospital in which he talked to patients, inquiring from them about the quality of services they get at the 52-year old hospital.

According to the hospital’s director, Dr. Cyrille Dusengamungu, the opening of the new facility will boost their efforts aimed at improving service delivery and attending to more patients.

"This special department for mental health will help us to improve our services. Doctors who work in that department will have more space and time with patients since such diseases require special attention,” Dusengamungu said.

Faustin Kamali, 22, whose father has been in and out of hospital for the last three years while undergoing treatment against epilepsy, could not hide his relief to see a special department being opened near his home village.

"We always had to travel to Kigali to find medication for my father but I am now happy that it has been brought closer to us,” Kamali said.

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