City hotel closed over hygiene

KIGALI-Hotel La Palisse, located in Nyandungu, Kigali, was, yesterday, temporarily closed due to poor hygiene and sanitation standards. The operation, mounted by Ministry of Health officials, also saw the closure of the famous recreational grounds, Bambino Super City, located in Kabuga, Gasabo District. According to Arthur Asiimwe, the Director General of the Health Communication Centre, the two facilities were temporarily closed and will need to meet the required sanitation and hygienic standards before they re-open. “We are targeting places where many people convene. After a thorough inspection of Hotel La Palisse and Bambino Super City, by a team of experts, it was discovered that the two did not conform to the required standards,” he said. “Until they meet the established standards, they will not be allowed to operate.” The inspection exercise, which kicked off Saturday, aims at ensuring that hygiene and sanitation standards are observed in all public recreational areas, hotels and restaurants countrywide. The inspection team is said to have found patches of dirt and untidiness in Bambino’s kitchen, toilets and swimming pool, prompting the ministry to provisionally close it. Dr Agnes Binagwaho, the Minister of Health, warned that the inspection would be intensified, countrywide, to protect the public.“Poor hygiene and sanitation is detrimental to human life.” “Poor hygiene is responsible for the occurrence of almost all common communicable diseases such as cholera, dysentery, diarrhoea, and intestinal worms. We are going to intensify this inspection campaign in all public facilities to ensure that we protect our people against any infections that arise from poor hygiene.” Statistics indicate that hygiene related diseases account for 47 percent of all illnesses reported at hospitals and health centres in the country. According to a statement from the ministry, everybody should be vigilant to ensure that hygiene and sanitation standards are maintained in public areas, workplace in homes. It also urges the public to always notify the ministry’s hygiene and sanitation desk of any public facility that breaches the set standards. Ends

National

City hotel closed over hygiene