A male nurse, who allegedly sexually assaulted two female patients in Kirehe District referral hospital, has been detained. Last Friday, medics and patients at the hospital had to intervene after the female patient yelled on top of her voice during the sexual assault. The assault allegedly took place while the patient and the nurse were alone in one of the administrative rooms. The development was confirmed yesterday by the Director of the hospital, Dr Jean Nipo Uwiringiyemungu. Dr Uwiringiyemungu castigated the assault, adding that it was contrary to the general ethics of the nurses and all medical practitioners. “The man was handed over to police. He was a nurse serving in the Out Patient Department (OPD). It all happened in the administrative office, when the nurse tried to take advantage of the patients,” he said. It is said that the accused tried to pull down the undergarments of the patients and started groping her before she made the alarm. Following the incident, another lady filed a complaint that the suspect had done the same to her earlier in the day. Eastern Province Regional Police Spokesman, Senior Superintendent Benoit Nsengiyumva, confirmed the incident, adding that the man was under police custody pending further investigations. “The two patients have formally complained and we are investigating the incident pending prosecution,” Nsengiyumva said. Kirehe hospital has over 76 nurses, and 12 doctors serving a population estimated to be 35,000. Meanwhile, a resident who preferred anonymity said the suspect had been previously accused of inappropriate contact with patients but had been let off the hook. “This is not the first time the accused is being arrested over similar charges. It seems the law is lenient on him,” said the source. According to National Council of Nurses and Midwives (NCNM), committing a harmful act against a client tantamounts to a breach of professional conduct and attracts indefinite suspension.
