Kibungo Hospital in Ngoma District, Eastern Province on Thursday unveiled an equipped modern laboratory that will make it possible for the hospital to meet the testing requirements of the district. 

The facility was constructed at a cost of over Rwf3.7bn, according to the hospital administration. It was funded by the Ministry of Health together with development partners.

The Director of the hospital, Dr William Namanya, said the new laboratory will significantly boost the services they offer, especially in the areas of HIV/Aids care and treatment, prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV, and TB treatment.

"It will positively impact the lives of the people,” Namanya said.

Kibungo hospital is set to be upgraded from a district hospital to a referral facility, according to the official.

Other district hospitals that are expected to be upgraded to the level of referral hospitals include Karongi and Ruhengeri hospitals for the Western and Northern provinces respectively.

Kibungo hospital already has a clinic that handles multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB).

Namanya urged the staff to serve the people better and use the equipment professionally.

"We have competent staff but as the hospital grows, we expect more highly skilled medics to join us. Our competence is steadily growing,” he said.

The district mayor, Aphrodise Nambaje, said the completion of the laboratory was timely.

"This upgrade will enable residents access specialised health services more easily. This is part of the efforts to realise Vision 2020”.

Kibungo District Hospital which was built in 1932 is one of the oldest medical facilities in the country.