After visiting hospitals of Bushenge, Gihundwe and Kibogora in the Western Province, the Minister of Health, Dr. Richard Sezibera, has said that efforts to offer quality services in hygienic facilities are very evident.

Sezibera who was in the region for a three-day visit, noted that amidst challenges like lack of necessary equipment, medics in these hospitals have still shown great commitment to boost healthcare.

"The hospitals visited so far are offering good services and the sanitation is commendable. Officials here are keen to follow up on patients closely and certainly other medics countrywide should emulate these examples,” he said.

"One of the major challenges however is that some practitioners still need training. Yes, they are performing but there is a need for more training.”

He also distributed some equipment to Gihundwe hospital in Rusizi district saying the government was determined to annually provide more to health facilities.

Sezibera added that, Bushenge is still operating under difficult conditions with some services being offered in tents because part of the hospital was destroyed in an earthquake.

As regards battling with public health problems like malnutrition, Kibogora Hospital Director, Dr. Damien Nsabimana, noted that a community-based approach to teach what to feed children has been initiated.

"Knowing that malnutrition is a major problem, especially for children under five, we ensure that parents learn how to prepare nutritious meals for their children using local foods and this is working,” Nsabimana explained. 

The minister later called upon medical practitioners to further improve quality service delivery citing that good patient care is paramount in this this profession.

While touring various departments in each health facility, Sezibera held discussions with patients urging them to play a bigger role in the prevention of some diseases such as dental problems, malnutrition and other infectious diseases that arise from poor hygiene.

59 year-old Veronica Mukaruhamya, a patient at Kibogora, thanked government for initiating the ambulance-service system that enabled her to access good health services in a short time.

"I would never have imagined to be alive and in this state of health if it was not for this ambulance system. Today I am receiving great care from experts at this hospital,” Mukaruhamya said with a smile. 

Each of the three hospitals visited has over 200 beds.

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