Kigali — Two years after the Nyamasheke health facility was destroyed by an earthquake, construction is underway to set up a state-of-the-art hospital which will be complete by the beginning of next year, the health Minister, Dr. Richard Sezibera has said.

The official made this revelation during his visit to the construction site yesterday in Nyamasheke district, Western province.

Sezibera said it is important to complete this facility on time, citing that patients who are now receiving medical services in temporary tents should relocate immediately to decent housing.

"This will be a huge hospital with over 200 beds. Normally it takes 24 months to set up a hospital like this one, but we planned to do this in a period of 12 months considering the medical need of the people and the situation," he explained.

"We have the required 3.9 million Euros that we need for this construction and now that it has begun, our aim is to finish the work as quickly as possible.

"After the February 2008 quake which destroyed this health facility, we started planning for a solution. By August 2009, there were some funds in place courtesy of our partners like CTB.

The new Bushenge hospital will serve over 150,000 people and officials emphasized that it will be fully equipped.

Other projects that are also underway in the same ministry include the hospitals of Kinazi, Burera, Kinihira, Gihundwe and the second phase of Kirehe. About 10 other hospitals are also under rehabilitation.