HUYE - Stake holders behind the construction of a reference laboratory at the National University Teaching Hospital of Butare, (CHUB) have resolved to involve other experts in the process after laboratory operators questioned its standards.

The laboratory is jointly being constructed by the National reference Laboratory, NRL, the Aids Control Commission (CNLS), UNICEF, Centre for Disease Control(CDC) and the International Centre for AIDS Care and Treatment Programme. 

At a stake holders’ meeting last week at CHUB, Dr .Andre Musemakweri, the hospital’s director, said the construction of the first phase was done without considering the appropriate lab standards.

"The plan of the lab construction was not well-studied because it is like that of ordinary building. Some walls have metal windows instead of aluminium for instance.

You would also find three rooms linked to one service but without any form of proper communication along with missing critical installations and many other errors,” said Dr. Musemakweri. 

Some rooms of the lab and its halls are not cemented, yet Sodimex Construction Company, is claiming that Rwf200 million which was budgeted for the construction of the facility has been exhausted.  

Dr. Odette Mukabayire, the head of the National reference laboratory, which was assigned to coordinate construction activities, said the budget ran out before construction is complete, because several other activities were done which were not originally included in the budget. 

"Normally engineers don’t have enough skills on such intricate technical matters, the reason laboratory operators were realising errors along the construction phase and recommended modifications,” Dr. Mukabayire said, adding that all partners would come up with another budget to start on the second construction phase.  

The new laboratory is expected to be the second reference laboratory in Rwanda after the National reference laboratory that is based in Kigali. 

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