Rusizi Residents protest poor services at health centre

RUSIZI - Residents of Bugarama Sector have complained about the poor services offered at the government-supported Bugarama Islamic Health Centre, in Rusizi district. According to the residents, they spend hours at the centre without getting medical attention. “All the officials here care about is money and making profits, they don’t mind about our health at all,” said one resident who requested to remain anonymous.Bitter residents, who had taken their complaints to the sector, blamed the health centre for neglecting patients. “I sat for more than eight hours yet I was in a terrible condition. Many people go through this, or even worse at this centre, which makes us revert to private clinics which are expensive,” said another resident. However, when contacted, Sifa Nyirabaziga, the Medical Director at the facility dismissed the allegations. “Because these residents are used to buying medicine illegally, they also want to force the centre to treat them according to their suggestions. Residents also complain of spending many hours without getting medical attention because of selfishness, everyone wants to go first,” said Nyirabaziga. Egide Gatera, the executive secretary for Bugarama Sector said residents have of late been complaining about the poor services they get at the health centre. “We have held several meetings with residents and health centre authorities. Surely, there must be a problem somewhere in the services offered, as claimed by residents. The sector will come up with an immediate solution,” he said. Bugarama Islamic health centre caters for over 26,000 residents in Rusizi District. Ends

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Rusizi Residents protest poor services at health centre