It is extremely unfortunate that the Minister of Health, has had to issue an ultimatum to hospitals, nationwide, to either build sufficient toilets in three months or have financial support withdrawn.

The ultimatum was issued following a surprise visit, by Ministry officials, to Muhima Hospital and Gitega Health Centre, where it was discovered that patients’ had substantially inadequate toilet facilities.

The Minister vowed to cut off hospital staff’s Performance Based Financing, a financial reward given to medical staff based on their productivity and quality of service and use the money to build toilets instead.

The issue was highlighted by Izuba Rirashe, this publication’s sister newspaper. As a result of the revelation, the hospital immediately began constructing two other toilets.

What make it galling is that the hospital authorities had to get exposed before they did something about a dire situation.

Hundreds of Rwandans use the Muhima Hospital facility and for them to have only two toilets to use is simply unhygienic. One can only imagine what state they are in? Would they have done nothing if this
wasn’t discovered?

Hospitals, because of their very nature, need to be as hygienic as  possible. If there is an outbreak of disease because of filthy toilets, it puts the lives of already bed-ridden Rwandans at risk.

Hospital administration should have known better.

Ends