Residents of Kayonza and neighbouring districts have decried the poor state of the road leading to Rwinkwavu Hospital.

They said the road has worsened the soci0-economic life in the area, especially during the rainy season.

The road stretches about 30 kilometres off the Kigali-Rusumo highway.

Scores of residents who spoke to The New Times last week urged the government to address their concern.Emmanuel Bucyana, 56, a resident, said the road was in a deplorable state.

"The road is impassable everytime it rains, thus creating hardship for commuters. A journey from Kabarondo to the hospital which would normally take about 15-20 minutes now takes about two hours or more as motorists negotiate the gullies. At times vehicles get stuck in mud signalling the end of the journey,” Bucyana lamented.

The poor state of the road has not only affected commercial activities in the area, but also patients going to the hospital.

Jeanne Nyinawumunu, a mother of three, said patients travelling to the hospital suffer due to the bad road.

"Patients from Ngoma, Kirehe, Kayonza, Rwamagana, Gatsibo and Nyagatare districts all use Rwinkwavu Hospital. So, the poor state of the road affects thousands of people, we call for government intervention to fix it,” she said.

"I have witnessed women giving birth on their way to the hospital since ambulances cannot get to the hospital in time. It is even worse when transporting patients in critical condition,” she added.

Edward Shyaka, an official working with the hospital, said: "Sometimes our ambulances get stuck in the gullies, particularly when it rains. The state of the road has affected patients, especially expectant mothers and the criticall ill,” he said.

Shyaka further noted that there were plans to fix the road that never materialised.

"Rwanda Transport Development Agency (RTDA), in conjunction with Akagera National Park, Wolfram Mining Company, and Partners In Health had agreed to tarmac the road but the plan never materialised,” he said.

Kayonza District mayor John Mugabo said the road was one of the priorities of the district.

"We have been working closely with concerned authorities to fix the road. It is an important road leading to the hospital, the Akagera National Park and mining sites,” he said.

Rwinkwavu hospital was launched in 2005 by Partners In Health to help strengthen the public health system.