GICUMBI-Patients at Byumba Hospital in Gicumbi District have expressed concern over the poor state of the hospital.

Some of the patients, who spoke to The New Times, said the hospital’s infrastructure needed an overhaul.

"Many patients spend days in corridors and verandas because there are insufficient wards to accommodate them, so more beds are needed,” said Antony Twahirwa, a patient.

Twahirwa, who had travelled from Burera District for treatment, added that he had spent eight hours on a queue to see a doctor due to the high influx of patients and few doctors at the hospital.

Another patient seeking treatment at the facility, Nepo Dusingizimana, said: "We ask the management to address the issue of toilets. improve on the latrines’ condition; tThey are too few compared to the number of patients here.”

Several oOther residents expressed concern over cracks developing on some of the hospital’s buildings.

"You sometimes fear that a wall may fall on you; these cracks worry us, something needs to be done,” Francis Habimana urged.

When contacted, the hospital’s administrator, Dr. Fred Muhayirwe, acknowledged that the hospital needs to be expanded.

"This hospital was established in 1947; since then, no renovation has taken place, and this old infrastructure is rundown,” said Muhayirwe, adding that the facility’s buildings are roofed in asbestos, a substance harmful to human health.

He revealed pointed out that the hospital’s management had managed to put up two new wards including a maternity V.I.P clinic. He, however, said more new infrastructure is needed to meet the demand.

"The number of patients we admit per day outnumber the number of beds we have,” he disclosed.

He added the hospital admits over 80 patients per day from Gicumbi and Burera districts.

Muhayirwe further disclosed that the health ministry had promised to renovate and expand the hospital.

"We are now designing a new plan for the hospital’s expansion and we expect it out by the end of this year,” said Muhayire.

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