On a typical working morning at Kigeme Hospital in Nyamagabe District, a steady flow of residents can be seen arriving for medical care. Among them are pregnant women who have travelled from different villages in Gasaka Sector and nearby sectors. Many say they are pleased with the improvements in healthcare services following the recent renovation of the hospital.
In the past, some patients who visited the hospital often encountered overcrowded wards or had to wait for long hours before receiving treatment. Today, however, residents say the situation has significantly improved. The renovation expanded the outpatient department and strengthened the hospital’s capacity to receive and treat many patients at the same time.
Chantal Nabahire, a resident of Kibumbwe Sector, was among the patients found at the hospital during the visit. She says the services are now faster and both patients and caregivers are treated with respect.
“Before, there were very few beds and some patients struggled to find where to rest,” she explains. “But today, no patient or caregiver has to spend the night in uncomfortable conditions. Whenever you arrive at the hospital, you are received quickly and treated well.”
Cartasi Ingabire, a pregnant mother from Gasaka Sector, also says the improvements have encouraged more women to seek medical care. She recalls that in the past, some women hesitated to go to the hospital because of long waiting times and concerns about hygiene.
“There were times when we arrived and found the hospital overcrowded,” she says. “Now the services are well organized, we are attended to quickly, and healthcare workers treat us with care. This makes us feel confident about our health and that of our unborn children.”
She also notes that improved hygiene and expanded facilities have reduced fears of infections that some mothers previously worried about after giving birth at the hospital.
According to the hospital’s management, the renovation was designed to improve the quality of healthcare services offered to residents, particularly those coming from various sectors of Nyamagabe and neighboring districts.
Dr. Jean Marie Vianney Kagimbangabo, the Director of Kigeme Hospital, says expanding infrastructure and improving patient reception systems has significantly reduced waiting time for patients.
“We carried out renovations to improve different service areas, especially the outpatient department,” he explains. “This has enabled us to receive patients in a more organized way and to provide care in a shorter time compared to before.”
He adds that the hospital receives a large number of patients referred from surrounding health centers, making the expansion necessary to ensure timely and efficient service delivery.
Dr. Kagimbangabo also points out that many of the illnesses treated at the hospital today are non-communicable diseases, which are increasingly common among adults. He notes that this reflects a global trend where lifestyle-related diseases are becoming more prevalent.
Kigeme Hospital serves as a district hospital playing a vital role in providing healthcare services to communities across the region. It receives referrals from 11 health centers and provides services to more than 200,000 residents from Nyamagabe District, Huye District, Nyaruguru District and Nyanza District.
Residents say the renovation has not only improved the hospital’s buildings but has also brought positive changes in how services are delivered. For them, access to fast and quality healthcare is one of the key pillars for improving community wellbeing.
For pregnant mothers in particular, access to improved maternal health services helps reduce the risks associated with delayed medical care and contributes to lowering maternal and infant mortality rates.
Residents of Gasaka and surrounding areas say they hope the improvement of healthcare services will continue so that every citizen can have equal access to reliable and nearby medical care.
For communities living around Gasaka and neighboring sectors, the renovation of the hospital is widely seen as a significant step toward bringing better healthcare closer to the people offering renewed hope for healthier families and a brighter future for mothers and their children.
