The full upgrade of Ngarama Hospital, in Gatsibo District, is expected to be complete by end of October at a tune of Rwf14.8 billion, according to the Ministry in Charge of Emergency Management (MINEMA). ALSO READ: Urban refugees to get health insurance Officials indicated that the first phase, which is focused on the maternity ward, is set to become operational in October. The move expands the hospital’s maternity ward capacity from the current 36 beds to 140 beds, nearly quadrupling its size. ALSO READ: New report: 99 percent refugees in Rwanda are financially included Officials provided the update on Monday, July 7, while responding to delays in the project execution which were exposed by the report of the Auditor General for the financial year ended on June 30, 2024. This was during a session with the Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC). The first phase cost is estimated at Rwf4.8 billion, while the second phase to cover hospital infrastructure other than maternity ward, is projected at Rwf10 billion. According to officials, the first phase began on October 16, 2023 and is at about 98 per cent of completion. The maternity ward wing is expected to improve and scale up maternal health services for mothers in the district and neighbouring areas, according to MINEMA. The hospital upgrade is part of the Jya Mbere project which aims to improve access to basic services and economic opportunities for both refugees and host communities, as well as support environmental management in targeted districts. Beneficiary districts under the project include Gatsibo, Gicumbi, Gisagara, Karongi, Nyamagabe, and Kirehe, which respectively host the refugee camps of Nyabiheke, Gihembe, Mugombwa, Kiziba, Kigeme, and Mahama. The project is funded by the World Bank and implemented by MINEMA. Philippe Habinshuti, the Permanent Secretary at MINEMA, told lawmakers that procurement of “modern” medical equipment for procedures such as caesarean sections is underway. Currently, Ngarama Hospital has a 130-bed capacity, including 36 beds for maternity, 18 for paediatrics, 15 for emergency care, 30 for internal medicine, 24 for surgery, and 7 for neonatology, MINEMA officials indicated. Habinshuti pointed out that the hospital, which serves both the host community and over 15,000 refugees in Nyabiheke Camp, had aging infrastructure that required urgent renovation and expansion. “The hospital has existed for a long time. Given increased demand for healthcare services, this upgrade done in partnership with the Ministry of Health, is essential for improving service delivery,” he said. MP Eugene Mussolini lauded the inclusion of modern equipment, particularly for maternity care, while PAC Vice Chairperson MP Cécile Murumunawabo expressed concern over the project’s changed timeline. It was initially expected to take one year but was extended to two years and three months. Habinshuti explained that the extension of the project deadline by 100 days from June to October 2025 for phase one, was necessary to allow for the shipping and installation of the maternity operation theatre equipment.
