CHUB Hospital overwhelmed and struggling to accommodate patients

By The Inspirer.

Patients and their caregivers at the University Teaching Hospitals of Butare (CHUB) express concerns over the overwhelming conditions and difficulties in accessing services efficiently.

During a recent visit to the Butare University Teaching Hospital (CHUB), patients and caregivers expressed their desire for the hospital’s facilities to be expanded due to the overcrowding, which makes it challenging for patients and their caregivers to find adequate space and beds.

The history of this hospital dates back to 1928 and they have continued to expand, but the increasing number of patients compared to the available resources remains a challenge.

This hospital serves a population of over one million in the Southern Province and part of the Western Province, covering 12 district hospitals and two others at the provincial level.

Some patients and caregivers interviewed by IGIHE voiced their frustration, stating that they face significant challenges, particularly regarding the long waiting times and overcrowding.

Liberatha, a mother, shared her ordeal of struggling to find space when visiting her child born with health complications.

She said, “When you give birth and need to stay for two days in maternity, you might end up staying for two weeks. During this time, if you have a premature baby in the pediatric ward, you will be left outside.”

Christine Mukanyabarebe, another caregiver at CHUB, has been waiting for five months for her children to be discharged. Her twins were born prematurely, and they are now five months old. These challenges have prompted calls for urgent attention from healthcare providers.

Berchmas Nsanzimfura, a caregiver at CHUB, emphasized the need for more facilities to accommodate patients, especially those who have been waiting for a long time.

He said, “We ask for the construction of additional facilities to ease the congestion, as patients are not given priority despite their urgent medical needs.”

Dr. Ngarambe Christian, the Director of CHUB, acknowledged these challenges and stated that the hospital’s budget for the current fiscal year does not allocate enough funds for the purchase of new facilities.

“We aim to establish new facilities to address the health needs of children, which will help us focus on caring for critically ill children, especially those born prematurely. However, it depends on how we address the overcrowding issue at the hospitals and reach agreements with suppliers to provide facilities at lower costs, particularly for pediatric wards and those at CHUB’s Nun’s Hospital.” Says Dr. Ngarambe.

He further explained that the ongoing staff shortage and increasing demand for services are additional challenges, which may further strain the services provided to patients. In September, CHUB admitted 11,750 patients and discharged 9,011 from hospitals.

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