KIGALI, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- China on Friday handed the Masaka Hospital renovation and expansion project to Rwandan authorities at a ceremony held at the hospital in the capital, Kigali.
The China-aided project is the largest grant-aid project undertaken by the Chinese government in Rwanda to date and a key livelihood project under the Belt and Road Initiative.
Following the renovation and expansion, the hospital's floor area has expanded from 6,398 square meters to 56,957 square meters, while the number of beds increased significantly from 127 to 837. The hospital's daily outpatient capacity has been raised to 2,000 visits.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, Rwandan Minister of Health Sabin Nsanzimana said the occasion was a major milestone for the country and the health sector.
"We expect this hospital to be a symbol of the high-quality medical care we can provide in Rwanda, in Africa," Nsanzimana said. "We look forward to continuing working together to make this partnership expand in health."
Chinese Ambassador to Rwanda Gao Wenqi described Masaka Hospital as both a witness and participant in the China-Rwanda friendship.
"The successful completion of this renovation and expansion project marks a comprehensive and historic transformation of the hospital, ushering in a new era of development in both its facilities and service capabilities," he said.
He said the new hospital will not only become one of the largest and most comprehensive teaching hospitals, but will also gradually grow into a regional medical hub serving East Africa and extending benefits to the entire African continent.
"Completion and handover mark the successful conclusion of the project's construction phase, and more importantly, represent a brand-new starting point for China-Rwanda health cooperation," he said.
The project employed more than 1,000 Rwandan workers and engaged more than 200 Chinese builders during the construction period, contributing to the development of local technical professionals.
China and Rwanda have maintained long-term cooperation in the medical and health sector. Since 1982, China has dispatched 26 medical teams to Rwanda, providing daily medical services at Masaka Hospital and Kibungo Hospital.
