Surgical care closer to home: Kibungo hospital offers hope to patients in Eastern Rwanda
By Elias Hakizimana.
For years, patients in Eastern Rwanda endured long, uncertain journeys in search of specialized surgical care. For many, it meant traveling hundreds of kilometers, waiting months—or even years—for procedures that could mean the difference between life and death.
On March 19, 2026, that reality began to change. At Kibungo Level Two Teaching Hospital, a new Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and a fully equipped peri-operative services complex were inaugurated, bringing lifesaving surgical care closer to the communities that need it most.
The facility includes four modern operating theatres, an ICU, a High Dependency Unit (HDU), and dedicated teaching spaces—an integrated system designed not only to handle complex surgical cases but also to train the next generation of specialists.
“This is a full package,” said Prof. Faustin Ntirenganya, chair of surgery in the University of Rwanda and president of Rwanda Surgical Society.“It is not just buildings. It is equipment, expertise, and training—all supported by Operation Smile at an estimated cost of Rwf 600 million.”
The need is urgent. Rwanda has approximately 172 surgeons serving a population of over 14 million. The country is training an additional 226 surgeons, which could bring the total to around 300—still far below the estimated 1,400 surgeons needed nationwide.
“These numbers are not abstract,” Prof. Ntirenganya explained. “Behind them are patients waiting in pain. At major referral hospitals, around 3,000 people are on surgical waiting lists. On average, a patient may wait up to 12 months for surgery, and in some specialties, up to three years.”
For patients like Donatille Nyiransengimana, the long waits were not just inconvenient—they were life-altering. She spent years moving from hospital to hospital without receiving the care she needed. After undergoing surgery at the new Kibungo ICU, her relief is palpable.
“I can finally sleep peacefully,” she said. “I am deeply grateful to the Government of Rwanda and Operation Smile for giving me a new lease on life.”
Operation Smile, known worldwide for cleft surgeries, has expanded its mission in Rwanda to strengthen entire surgical systems. In just one week at Kibungo, the team performed 50 surgeries—equivalent to three to four months of routine work—dramatically reducing waiting times and alleviating human suffering.
“Access to surgical care is a basic human right,” said Susan Can, Senior Vice President for Global Marketing and Strategy at Operation Smile. “This facility means more people will receive safe, essential care close to home. That is what progress looks like.”
Local leaders are equally optimistic
Ngoma District Mayor Nathalie Niyonagira described the ICU as a turning point for the region.
“This facility will play a critical role in saving lives and improving healthcare services not only in Ngoma but also in neighboring districts,” she said.
Yet, challenges remain. Nearly 70 percent of Rwanda’s surgical workforce is concentrated in Kigali, leaving rural areas underserved. Prof. Ntirenganya emphasized that sustainable change requires more than deploying surgeons—it demands decentralized systems, proper equipment, and supportive living conditions for specialists.
“You cannot send a surgeon without support,” he said. “You need proper facilities, equipment, and a good living environment. This is how we build a sustainable system.”
Back in Kibungo, the new ICU stands as a symbol of that vision. It is a place where advanced technology meets human compassion, and where fewer patients will have to wait, travel, or suffer in silence.
For the people of Eastern Rwanda, surgical care is no longer a distant promise. It is now within reach—and, for patients like Donatille, it is a renewed chance at life.
Jean Marie Vianney Ndayizigiye, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health, described the ICU as more than just a new building.
“This is a shared commitment to provide timely, quality surgical care to our communities,” he said. “It is about giving life back to patients.”
He urged healthcare workers and students to safeguard and maximize the use of the facility, emphasizing the importance of skills and innovation in delivering results with limited resources.
Jean Marie Vianney Ndayizigiye calls the new ICU a shared commitment to delivering timely, quality surgical care and saving lives
Operation Smile’s Susan Can receives a gift in recognition of her contribution to strengthening surgical care in Rwanda. 
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Well elaborated Sir and appreciation goes to the entire team of Operation Smile for their continued support to our Rwandan Health system towards quality health care delivery.