At Kabutare Hospital in Huye District, fire safety is increasingly being treated as a shared responsibility, with hospital staff and caregivers receiving training on how to prevent, contain and respond to fires before they escalate.
In a hospital environment, where patients may be unable to move quickly or respond to an emergency on their own, preparedness can make the difference between a minor incident and a major disaster.
It was against this backdrop that the Rwanda National Police in the Southern Province conducted a fire safety training for hospital managers, employees and caregivers at Kabutare Hospital. The training focused on fire prevention, the proper use of firefighting equipment and the appropriate actions to take when a fire breaks out.
The initiative goes beyond teaching people how to operate a fire extinguisher. It seeks to build a culture in which everyone understands that preventing fires and responding appropriately to emergencies is a collective responsibility.
The Rwanda National Police says that early action is critical in controlling fires and protecting lives.
CIP Hassan Kamanzi, The Police spokesperson in the Southern Province, said the training was designed to equip hospital leaders, employees and caregivers with practical knowledge that can help prevent fires and limit their consequences.
He explained that the training is part of the Police’s broader fire safety awareness campaign, which brings together communities and institutions to reduce fire incidents and strengthen preparedness.
“When a fire starts, every second counts. If people have the knowledge and confidence to use basic firefighting equipment, they can take immediate action to contain the fire while waiting for professional emergency responders to arrive,” He said.
For a hospital, fire preparedness is particularly important because some patients may be bedridden, elderly, seriously ill or otherwise unable to evacuate without assistance.
Dr. Jean Pierre Uzabakiriho, who oversees health service operations at Kabutare Hospital, said the training provided valuable knowledge on preventing fires, responding to emergencies and safely using firefighting equipment.
“Fire safety in a hospital cannot be left only to security personnel or professional firefighters. Every employee, hospital manager and caregiver has a role to play in preventing fires and responding appropriately when an incident occurs,” He said.
For those who participated in the training, the sessions provided an opportunity to gain practical skills that could prove crucial during an emergency.
Nzitonda Serge, one of the participants, said the training improved his understanding of fire prevention, emergency response and the proper use of a fire extinguisher. He said the practical knowledge would help participants respond more confidently instead of panicking when faced with a fire emergency.
Mizero Bella Scovia, another participant, said one of the most important lessons she took away was that fire prevention cannot be left to firefighters alone.
“I have learned that fire prevention is everyone’s responsibility. Each of us has a role to play in preventing fires and taking appropriate action as soon as one starts,” she said.
A fire can begin with something seemingly small but quickly become uncontrollable if it is not detected and addressed in time. This makes early detection, prevention and immediate response essential, particularly in hospitals where the safety of patients must remain the priority.
The training at Kabutare Hospital was therefore aimed at ensuring that employees and caregivers are not simply bystanders when a fire breaks out. Instead, they should have the basic knowledge needed to protect lives, alert others, use available firefighting equipment safely and take appropriate measures while waiting for professional emergency services.
For Kabutare Hospital, strengthening the knowledge and preparedness of its staff and caregivers is an important step toward creating a safer environment for patients, employees and everyone who enters the facility.
