Minister slams CHUB staff over bickering

SOUTHERN PROVINCE HUYE — The Minister of Health, Dr Richard Sezibera on Monday castigated staff at the Butare Teaching Hospital (CHUB) for the internal wrangles that have characterised the health facility over the years. The Minister who was on a working tour of the district said that the unbecoming behavior of hospital staff had impacted negatively on health service delivery. “A University Teaching Hospital is supposed to act as a role model to the rest because it is here that future service providers are trained,” Minister Sezibera told hospital staff gathered at National University of Rwanda’s Faculty of Medicine. The minister observed that despite the availability of highly skilled health specialists from abroad at the hospital, Rwandan medical practitioners working at the institution have not bothered to learn from them. “You have let this opportunity to pass. You have not read their research works neither have you conducted any research of your own. You have lost valuable time in gossiping and compiling dossiers on your colleagues,” said the tough speaking minister. “You need to have the right attitude towards work, proper technical knowledge and to create a proper working environment for yourselves if you are to serve in the medical profession,” he added. Earlier, he conducted a guided tour of the hospital but was stunned to find that certain high value equipment acquired by the hospital equipment lacked proper maintenance. “You have to establish a clear maintenance plan for hospital equipment because it costs government and donors a like a lot of money,” he said. Dr Andre Musemakweli, the CHUB director said that despite the limited and aging physical infrastructure and over stretched staff, the hospital had registered success in different areas. “Since its inception in 2006, our dialysis unit has successfully treated over 60 patients. We plan to reduce treatment costs from Rwf.240, 000 to Rwf.120, 000 so that the service can be accessed by many people who need it in the country and region,” said Musemakweli. He cited lack of physical infrastructure, a more coherent waste management system, inadequate equipment and staff in different specialised areas as some of the challenges facing the teachning hospital. “We request the Ministry to look into the possibility of hiring specialist pathologists, radiologists, gynaecologists and cardiologists because there is a gap in these and other fields,” said Dr Musemakweli. Hospital staff expressed their desire to further their education. The Minister of health said that many have been facilitated to go back to school while many others will be helped to study while at work. The Butare Teaching Hospital receives funding from government and other development partners to a tune of over Rwf.1billion. It treats over 10, 000 patients every year. Ends