The new Ntunga Maternity Centre provides much needed check-ups, screenings, medical education and childbirth support services to women living in Ntunga: a large rural community of 19,000 people close to Rwamagana, the capital of Rwanda’s Eastern Province. The centre provides an accessible health solution to pregnant women who previously had to walk long distances to receive health services.

Rwanda sits in a seismically active zone and the maternity centre is one of the first public buildings in the area which is structurally designed to withstand earthquakes and ground tremors. Arup’s team provided pro bono expertise creating an innovative design to make the building structurally sound without increasing construction cost. The building is also designed to provide sufficient natural ventilation, including natural daylight, while balancing the nighttime temperature changes for newborn babies.

Women who previously had to travel for hours by foot or bicycle to see medical professionals are now able to visit this clean and safe maternity unit. Before the centre opened, the only maternity services were provided at the main hospital, over 40 km away.

Following the completion of the centre, more than 30 babies were being born at the centre each month. The centre has also been a catalyst for further community health services being developed in the same location since the maternity facility was built.

We were the design consultants on the new maternity centre, leading on the architecture, master planning and MEP (mechanical, electrical and plumbing) engineering. The design focused on an inclusive and accessible approach:

  • The designs were informed through a participatory consultation process with the end users to ensure appropriate solutions and acceptance of the centre within the community.
  • The design of the birthing suites featured spaces for accompanying caregivers. This approach was informed by advice gained from local midwives and doctors.
  • The architectural design ensures privacy within each space, as this was highlighted as a key concern throughout the consultations.
  • The design responded to feedback on issues within the current building, including high temperatures, lack of internal circulation spaces, and unreliable water supply.

It is a unique building with lots of intelligent innovations. We hope to use these ideas in the future and use this design as a prototype.

Rwanda Ministry of Health

Arup provided design services for the centre, which delivers a much-needed accessible health solution to pregnant women and new-borns in Rwanda