{Residents of Bugarura Island in Lake Kivu form Boneza sector in Rutsiro district, have expressed disappointment over long distances walked to access health care services, requiring them to cross the lake to Kinunu health center, making emergence cases difficult to handle. }
Talking to IGIHE, the residents said the only powered boat available is too expensive to support the poor in need of emergence medical services.
“The ministry of health had given us a boat to carry critically ill patients but later informed that the boat collapsed. The district secured another wooden boat with a powered engine but then a patient to buy fuel to be transported, most of who cannot afford that,” said Hakizimana, a 34 year old man, resident of Boneza sector.
Hakizimana said that they are required to seek for medical care at Kinunu health center located in Boneza sector since they, in Bugarura island have only one health post serving over 2,112 citizens.
“The sole health post has only one nurse who can’t attend to all of us. He leaves the office at 5:00 pm and cannot afford attending to patents in the night. On Friday, he closes at noon to return on Monday which means we have no access to health services over the weekends,” said Hakizimana.
As residents from the island said, it requires Rwf 100 to sail but in case someone needs to use the public boat overnight, he/she is required to buy fuel of which order is placed from Rubavu district. They say that the boat needs 20 liters to start.
Tuyisenge Anastase another resident from Bonero sector told IGIHE that after leaving the boat they have to travel for one hour on land to reach Kinunu health center.
Residents said that all these complexities affect them especially pregnant women. Getting HIV test is also not easy for them.
Niyonzima Tharcisse, the acting executive secretary of Rutsiro district says that they are going to seek ways of facilitating citizens use the boat without harbouring much burden, advising all residents to pay for medical insurance.
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