First Lady Jeannette Kagame and Morocco’s Princess Lalla Asmaa have officially opened a specialised ear care centre at Kanombe Military Hospital in Kigali to improve access to diagnosis and treatment for people with hearing problems, particularly children.
The centre was inaugurated on Monday, October 26, 2026, marking a step forward in Rwanda’s efforts to expand specialised healthcare services for people with hearing impairments.
Established through cooperation between Rwanda and Morocco, the facility is intended to help patients access specialised treatment to improve their hearing and quality of life.
In its first week of operations, 50 children underwent treatment, while another 100 received hearing aids.
Brig. Gen. Dr Eugène Ngoga, director of Kanombe Military Teaching Hospital, said the centre would particularly benefit children with hearing difficulties by expanding access to advanced medical care.
“The expected impact of the services provided at this ear diagnosis and treatment centre at Kanombe Military Hospital will benefit young people with hearing problems,” he said.
Ngoga noted that treating ear conditions requires specialised equipment and skilled professionals. He said the centre’s equipment was provided through collaboration involving Imbuto Foundation and the Kingdom of Morocco.
Moroccan specialists worked alongside Rwandan doctors to treat children during the initial phase, with services expected to continue, including the provision of hearing aids to those who need them.
State Minister for Health Dr Yvan Butera said the centre strengthens healthcare cooperation between Rwanda and Morocco while expanding the country’s capacity to manage complex ear conditions.
“This centre is a model for Rwanda because it adds new capacity to treat children with serious ear conditions. It has advanced equipment that will enable children who previously had to travel abroad for treatment to receive care here. Patients from neighbouring countries will also be able to seek these services at the centre,” he said.
The Ministry of Health expects the facility to increase access to diagnosis, treatment and support for people with hearing difficulties, especially children who risk lasting complications when care is delayed.
Despite the new centre, Rwanda continues to face a shortage of specialists in ear, nose and throat conditions. The country currently has about 29 such specialists, while demand for these services continues to grow.
