CHUK has launched a new kitchen (Gemura Kitchen) has been inaugurated, which cost 600 million Rwandan Francs to build. This kitchen has the capacity to prepare up to 8,000 meals daily, and its aim is to provide nutritious meals for patients at the hospital.
The kitchen was constructed by the Government of Rwanda in partnership with Solid Africa, a Rwandan organization that provides food to low-income patients in public hospitals, especially those who cannot afford meals.
The Ministry of Health (MINISANTE) stated that the new kitchen will help address the challenges patients face in accessing food, especially those coming from remote areas who often struggle to bring meals to their loved ones.
The Permanent Secretary of MINISANTE, Iyakaremye Zachee, explained that families often face difficulties in providing food for their relatives due to the distance between their homes and the hospitals, particularly when the patients are far from their home areas.
He said that:”It was common for families to struggle to bring food due to the distance, whether within Kigali or from the provinces, and sometimes food delivery was not properly managed.”
The Director-General of Solid Africa, Kamaliza Isabelle, emphasized that the kitchen will help prepare high-quality meals for patients, caregivers, hospital staff, and other visitors to the hospital daily. She added that the organization will ensure food quality is maintained. “There are patients and caregivers who have been shown to lack the ability to buy meals, so anyone who can afford it will be able to access meals with a subsidy. For instance, the cost to prepare one meal is 800, but you can buy it for 200,” she said.
Caregivers at CHUK have expressed their happiness about this initiative, calling it highly beneficial. Nsazabaganwa Jean, a patient who has been receiving treatment at CHUK for five months, said that having a kitchen nearby would significantly ease the burden of providing food, particularly for those coming from distant areas.
He explained by saying that:”I am from Shyorongi near Kigali, but there are others coming from as far as Rusizi, Ngororero, and other places. It was difficult for their families to bring them food,”
Mukamazimpaka Donatha another patient, who came from Ngoma District in the Eastern Province and has been admitted to CHUK for three months, said:”Coming all the way from Rusizi to be treated here at CHUK was really difficult. The lack of food could be life-threatening. Those who have been helping us have been a great support.”
The patients continue to appreciate the food delivery services provided by Solid Africa, as their families, who live far away, have difficulties reaching them.
The kitchen at CHUK can now prepare up to 8,000 meals daily, with meals served three times a day (in the morning, at noon, and in the evening).
Solid Africa, an organization that has been operating in Rwanda for 15 years, provides food to over 1,700 low-income patients and their caregivers in hospitals across the country every day, offering the meals for free.