The University Teaching Hospital of Butare (CHUB) is planning to have accommodation facilities for outpatients who come from distant places.

The Director General of CHUB, Dr Augustin Sendegeya, made the revelation on Sunday as the hospital marked the World Patients’ Day.

He explained that there are many patients who come from distant places, mainly from the 15 district hospitals in the Southern and Western provinces for consultation, yet some of them have no means to pay for lodging.

"We are in negotiations with the clergy so that they can build affordable accommodation near the hospital so that outpatients can get a place where they can wait from. A patient who comes from Rusizi to see a doctor at 8am needs to come a day earlier in order to make it in time. We need a remedy,” he noted.

He said the hospital wards are filled to capacity.

The hospital has 500 beds and admits between 300 and 400 patients every day.

It receives between 350 and 370 outpatients per day.

Dr Sendegeya said the Patient’s Day is an opportunity to give value to life and take a firmer commitment to save lives.

"For those who have the duty to treat, it is an important opportunity when we sit and do self-assessment. I have to take this occasion to thank you for your endless dedication to offering health services day and night, so that we are able to help our patients,” he told medics.

"Patients come to us with confidence. We have to maintain that trust through good health care otherwise without that trust it’s difficult for one to heal no matter what medicine you give. We will put more efforts in improving service delivery.”

Jean Paul Mulisa, from Rulindo District, welcomed the idea.

He thanked the hospital for the good service and for building a store for patients’ equipment.

The CHUB has managed to build a large dining room for patients and caregivers and an equipment store, which facilitates cleanliness and hygiene in patients’ rooms.

Euprasie Nyiramafigi, 73, from Nyanza District, who got an accident over two months ago, said the day gives patients hope.

Patients appealed to doctors to ensure close monitoring on their health.

During the event, Dr Sendegeya thanked the Agaseke k’Urukundo Foundation, a non-governmental organisation supporting vulnerable patients at CHUB.

He called on other people to emulate its example, saying patients need proper feeding to respond well to treatment.

The day was set up in 1992 in a bid to reflect on the state of patients and give them quality treatment to ensure patient safety.