In this context, the hospital has launched the university in line with Ministerial Order No. 001/MINEDUC/2024, dated April 26, 2024, which authorized AHSU to begin operations and granted it legal status. The order specified that AHSU is permitted to offer Master's degree programs in anesthesiology, emergency medicine, surgery, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, and pediatrics.
Additionally, AHSU will provide courses in the fields of pharmacy, nursing, midwifery, radiography, and laboratory sciences. The university has started by offering the Bachelor of Science in midwifery course initially enrolling 40 learners selected from1423 applications (2.3% acceptance rate for the midwifery program).
This opportunity is highly advantageous for the selected learners, as they will receive full scholarships, accommodation, and stipends during the course of their studies. The selection process prioritized learners who excelled in high school exams, particularly in biology.
However, due to the large number of applicants, additional written exams and interviews were conducted to identify the top 40 learners who reported on 1st September 2024 and commenced their studies the same week.
Learners will spend their first semester taking theoretical and simulation based learning, with subsequent years spent in hospital-based training at hospitals, among them, Kacyiru hospital, Muhima hospital and King Faisal Hospital.
Some of the learners at the university expressed their excitement during the reporting day, affirming that it will help them achieve their goals in the midwifery field.
During an interview with IGIHE, Kevine Kayihoza Ntawuyifasha, one of the selected learners could not hide her excitement at the opportunity.
"Getting this opportunity is a great blessing; I am now determined to work hard and succeed so that I can help expectant mothers in the future. Since childhood, I wanted to pursue a career in midwifery, but I wasn't sure where I would study."
Similarly, her colleague, Nina Shania Kamikazi, said, "It's a blessing to be among the few selected learners from the many who applied. This is an opportunity I must use to build my future, and I believe this place will help me achieve that."
Kamikazi also revealed that she has always dreamt of working in the medical field, particularly in midwifery, as she considers it a noble profession and a calling.
Dr. Augustin Sendegeya, Chief Medical Officer at King Faisal Hospital, emphasized that the university is expected to address the shortage of trained medical professionals.
He stated, "We were given the responsibility not only to be a hospital but also to contribute to education. With the resources we have and the strong leadership, we saw the need to establish a university that offers various programs related to medical education."
He added, "The university will increase the number of healthcare workers, not just in quantity but also in the quality of the services they provide. Based on how we have started and the support available, this is an achievable goal."
Dr. Sendegeya noted that the Master's degree programs will be offered at Kibungo Hospital in Ngoma District and Kibuye Hospital in Karongi District. This will enhance the capacity of these hospitals, improving the services provided to the community.
AHSU currently operates at the Kacyiru Executive Apartment buildings, located near King Faisal Hospital.
IGIHE
