The China-aided Masaka Hospital Renovation and Expansion Project holds Groundbreaking Ceremony
2023/03/31

On March 30th, 2023, the Groundbreaking Ceremony for the China-aided Masaka Hospital Renovation and Expansion Project was held in Rwanda. His Excellency. Mr. Wang Xuekun, the Chinese Ambassador to Rwanda, joined His Right Honorable Prime Minister Dr. Edouard Ngirente to attend the ceremony and laid the foundation stone for the project. Over 50 people attended the event, including Rwandan Minister of Health Dr. Sabin NSANZIMANA, Minister of Infrastructure Dr. Ernest NSABIMANA, State Minister of Infrastructure Eng. Patricie UWASE, Mayor of Kigali Pudence RUBINGISA, staff of the Chinese Embassy in Rwanda, and representatives from Chinese project contractors.

The Ambassador stated in his speech that the China-aided Masaka Hospital Renovation and Expansion Project is an important measure to materialize the outcomes of the visit made by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2018, which reflects the stable development of bilateral relations and the deep friendship between the two peoples. China attaches great importance to cooperation with Rwanda in the fields of healthcare and infrastructure. To further support the development of Rwanda's public healthcare system, the Chinese government agreed to assist in the implementation of the renovation and extension of Masaka Hospital on the basis of the current China-aided facility. In the future, China will continue to provide support within its capabilities for Rwanda's economic and social development and improvement of people's livelihoods.

Subsequently, Prime Minister Ngirente highly praised the friendly cooperation between China and Rwanda and expressed gratitude for China's valuable support to Rwanda's development in various fields. Rwanda has been committed to improving the level of medical and healthcare infrastructure and enhancing the professional skills of medical personnel. The Masaka Hospital Renovation and Expansion Project supported by China is of great significance in promoting the sustainable development of Rwanda's public healthcare, and once completed, it will be able to provide high-quality medical services for the people of Rwanda and become a cradle for training medical personnel in Rwanda.

The project will expand the existing 6398-square-meter Phase 1 Masaka hospital into a large modern hospital with a total construction area of more than 56,000 square meters and a total hospital bed capacity of 837. Upon completion, it will become the largest full-fledged general hospital and the top teaching hospital in Rwanda, and furthermore a vital medical hub in the Great Lakes region.