GATSIBO-A survey carried out by the Youth Association for Human rights Promotion and Development,(AJPRODHO-Jijukirwa), under the Public Information Monitoring and Advocacy  programme (PIMA), has cited poor infrastructure in rural areas of Gatsibo District as partly to blame for lack of better healthcare delivery.

AJPRODHO operates in the Gitoki, Rwimbogo, Gasange and Murambi sectors of the district.

At a consultative meeting that brought together officials from the association, Rwanda Women Network and health workers in the district, participants noted that poor roads heading to health centres were a serious obstacle to service delivery.

AJPRODHO coordinator, Fred Musiime, noted that there was need to mobilise funds for rehabilitation of road networks in rural areas to improve health services.

"Poor roads affects ambulances transporting patients from health centres to the main hospital, a situation that results in poor service delivery,” lamented Evariste Dusabimana, a health worker at Ngarama Hospital.

Musiime however observed that since the introduction of community score card project, there had been an improvement in service delivery among local leaders and other concerned partners.  

The score card enables the local community to evaluate local authorities on service delivery basing on the Medium term economic strategy otherwise known as EDPRS targets.

The district vice mayor in charge of finance and economic development, Isaie Habarurema, informed participants that the district would rehabilitate over 100 kilometres of feeder roads in the rural areas of the district using the allocated budget.

"I thank the organisers of such meeting that brings together stakeholders to discuss challenges and the way forward in health sector. I also assure you that the district will soon rehabilitate feeder roads that will facilitate improved services in various sectors, especially the health sector,” he stated.

Ends