Facility Upgrades Will Bring Safe, Quality Healthcare Closer to Muyumbu Communities

For nearly four decades, Muyumbu Health Center has been a cornerstone of healthcare for families in Muyumbu Sector and its surrounding communities. Serving over 60,000 residents, this facility has provided essential primary care, maternal services, and child health interventions.

However, the health center has struggled to meet the growing demand for care, especially for mothers and newborns. On average, over 130 consultations take place each day in just four consultation rooms, far exceeding the national standard of 30–40 patients per room per day. As a result, patients, including those requiring urgent care, often experience very long waiting queues. On average, five mothers deliver each day at the facility.

Additionally, the maternity ward remains severely undersized, outdated, and poorly equipped. The small labor room is disconnected from the delivery area and is located near the outpatient waiting area, undermining privacy and dignity. The facility lacks running water in the delivery and postnatal areas, has an inadequate sewage system, and fails to meet basic infection prevention and control (IPC) standards.

Because of the challenges posed by limited space and an aging infrastructure, all emergency obstetric maternity cases must be referred to distant district hospitals, causing dangerous delays for mothers and newborns.

Addressing Critical Gaps: The Muyumbu Health Center Upgrade

Health Builders, in partnership with Rwamagana District and the Pace Family Foundation, has launched a transformative project to rehabilitate and upgrade Muyumbu Health Center into a fully equipped medical facility. This includes:

Construction of a new maternity block with a fully equipped operating theater for cesarean sections
Rehabilitation of the old maternity ward and conversion into additional consultation rooms
Repair of sanitation facilities
Provision of life-saving equipment for post-operative and neonatal care
Training and mentorship for healthcare workers in emergency obstetric and neonatal care (EmONC), data use, and quality improvement

*Current hospitalization and maternity block*

Upgrade Impact and Sustainability

With these upgrades, Muyumbu Health Center will be able to reduce preventable maternal and neonatal deaths. It can also expand its services to up to 200,000 community members in the surrounding areas near Muyumbu.

Over the next 50 years, the newly updated health facility is projected to save the lives of over 15,000 children, mothers, and other adults.

A Community-Centered Solution

Muyumbu Health Center will serve a population beyond its immediate area. It will also act as a referral hub for nearby health centers, including Karenge, Nyakariro, and Nyagasambu. By combining state-of-the-art infrastructure, trained staff, and modernized equipment, the upgrade ensures that life-saving maternal and neonatal care is available within minutes of birth, rather than hours.

This project will give families in Muyumbu the dignity, privacy, and timely care they deserve during childbirth.

Partners and Collaboration

This initiative brings together multiple partners for maximum impact:

Health Builders: Leads overall project management, fundraising, equipment procurement, and clinical training, ensuring the project meets its goals and aligns with community needs
Ministry of Health (MoH): Deploys and supervises medical doctors, and ensures integration into Rwanda’s public health system
Rwamagana District: Provides local coordination, oversight, and reporting
Pace Family Foundation: Provides initial funding support
ASA Design: Delivers architectural and engineering services, producing detailed schematic construction drawings for a functional, durable, and IPC-compliant facility
Construction Contractor (to be hired): Executes building works in accordance with approved designs and specifications

From Plans to Progress

Health Builders and partners have already completed preliminary activities, including:

Site analysis and technical assessments
Architectural and structural surveys
Schematic design development, focused on patient flow, accessibility, and environmental sustainability

The next step is detailed design and construction documentation, paving the way for the new maternity block to become a reality in 2026.

Join Us in Bringing Safe Birth Closer to Home

Our vision for Muyumbu Health Center is clear: a modern maternity facility that ensures no mother or newborn dies due to lack of timely care. But to make this vision a reality, we urgently need additional support.

Health Builders and its partners have laid the groundwork and secured initial funding; however, an estimated $350,000 remains to complete the construction, equip the maternity ward and operating theatre, and train healthcare workers to deliver life-saving care.

Together, we can ensure that every woman in Muyumbu delivers safely, and every newborn has a chance to thrive.

Looking Ahead

By upgrading Muyumbu Health Center, Health Builders and partners are creating a lasting resource for maternal and child health in the sector. With upgraded maternity services, equipped operating theatres, trained staff, and community engagement, this project is poised to save thousands of lives and set a new standard for quality care in Rwanda.

To learn more or partner with us on the Muyumbu Health Center upgrade, please contact us.

Transforming Maternal and Child Health In Muyumbu