Strengthening Quality of Service at Nkanga Health Post
Nkanga Health Post is located in Rwanda’s Northern Province, Rulindo District. The facility was constructed in 2022 through a partnership between Health Builders and Rulindo District and officially began operations on January 26, 2023.
The health post was established to serve a population of approximately 6,520 people residing in Rusiga sector, Gako cell. Prior to its establishment, community members had to travel 10 to 15 kilometers to access healthcare services at the nearest health centers, namely Kinini or Shyorongi. This distance posed significant challenges and often led to delays in seeking timely medical care, especially for pregnant women, young children, and the elderly.
Since its opening, Nkanga Health Post has significantly improved healthcare accessibility in the region. On average, the facility receives 325 patient consultations per month. This monthly average includes:
45 visits from children under five years old
4 women deliver infants
7 women receive antenatal care services
91 individuals benefit from family planning services
154 laboratory tests are performed
24 vaccinations are administered
These figures reflect the vital role Nkanga Health Post plays in enhancing health service delivery and promoting well-being within the community.
Support and Mentorship
In addition to infrastructure development, Health Builders plays a critical role in strengthening service quality at Nkanga Health Post through ongoing mentorship in pharmacy, maternal and child health, Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI), and capacity-building support.
Health Builders provides regular technical guidance and training to healthcare staff, ensuring adherence to national healthcare standards and continuous improvement in service delivery. This mentorship model helps to build local capacity, promote professional development, and ultimately improve patient outcomes.
While Nkanga Health Post has had a significant positive impact on the community by increasing access to basic healthcare services, several gaps remain. One of the primary challenges is the limited scope of services available at the health post.
Certain essential health services are not yet provided at Nkanga, which requires patients to travel to a health center or be referred to a hospital. For example, specialized diagnostic services, emergency care, and certain treatments exceed the capacity of the health post. As a result, some patients, particularly those with limited mobility or financial resources, still face barriers to receiving comprehensive care.
Health Builders is working to address these gaps through capacity-building, infrastructure expansion, and integration with higher-level health facilities to strengthen the impact of Nkanga Health Post and ensure more holistic healthcare delivery for the community.
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