Bugesera Island gets water ambulance

The Belgian Development Agency (BTC), has donated a motorised boat to the residents of Mazane Island, Lake Rweru in Bugesera district. The boat is intended to facilitate in the transportation of patients to Nzangwa Health Centre.Speaking to The New Times, BTC official in charge of institutional support, Vincent Tihon, said the boat will not only be used for medical emergencies, but would also transport fee paying passengers.‘’The priority is the transport of patients, but the boat will be used by other passengers to generate income,” he said.It’s about 7km from Mazane Island to the health centre.Previously, local residents used precarious canoes with the capacity to carry three to four people for a journey that took 2 hours. “Some patients died in the canoes because of long distance”, said Thomas Mugabo, a resident of Mazane. The new boat has the capacity of 25 people and uses 30 minutes from Mazane to the mainland. “This motorised boat will make a great contribution to our good health’’.This small island covers an area of 7 sq km and has a population of 1,109 inhabitants.Patients with health insurance cover Mutuelle de Santé, will pay only 10% of boat fares, the same as what they pay in hospitals.

National

Bugesera Island gets water ambulance