When the White Fathers arrived at Nyamigisa in 1911, they brought with them a vision that went beyond faith alone. They understood that true ministry meant caring for the whole person—body, mind, and spirit. More than a century later, that vision continues to guide every patient we serve at Nyamigisa Health Centre.
From Medicine Under a Tree to Modern Healthcare
Our journey began humbly. In 1975, when access to healthcare was scarce in our community, dedicated missionaries started dispensing medicines for common illnesses. There were no grand facilities—just a genuine desire to ease suffering and save lives.
By 1978, the Christian community and parish council recognized the growing need and established a small dispensary. It was a simple structure, but it represented something profound: a community coming together to care for its own.
The transformation accelerated in 1985 when the Banyatereza Sisters took on the responsibility of managing the dispensary. Under their devoted stewardship, what started as a small medicine distribution point has grown into a Health Centre III—a facility now equipped to provide comprehensive medical services including laboratory diagnostics, maternity care, HIV/AIDS treatment, TB diagnosis, ultrasound services, and much more.
A Memorial to Hope
In 2011, as Nyamigisa Catholic Parish celebrated 100 years of faith and service, the parish council made a bold decision: to transform our Health Centre into Sacred Heart Nyamigisa Memorial Hospital. This vision isn’t just about expanding buildings or adding equipment—though we certainly need both. It’s about memorializing a century of compassion and committing ourselves to the next century of healing.
Healthcare as a Human Right
Walk into our facility today, and you’ll see our mission in action. We don’t ask about bank accounts before providing care. We don’t turn anyone away because they cannot pay. For us, healthcare is not a privilege reserved for those who can afford it—it’s a fundamental human right.
Our commitment goes beyond our walls. Through regular community outreaches, we bring immunization, antenatal care, TB diagnosis and treatment, and HIV/AIDS services directly to those who need them most—completely free of charge. Because we believe that distance, poverty, or circumstance should never stand between a person and the care they need.
The Road Ahead
Today, Nyamigisa Health Centre serves as a beacon of hope for our community, but our journey is far from complete. We’re working toward the vision of a full memorial hospital, and we need partners who share our commitment to accessible, compassionate healthcare.
We need a general ward to accommodate more patients. We need a new maternity ward where mothers can safely bring new life into the world. We need a theatre for surgical procedures. We need an ambulance to reach emergencies in time. We need modern diagnostic equipment like a Complete Blood Count machine and an X-ray machine.
But more than anything, we need continued dedication to the principles that have guided us for over a century: that every person deserves dignity, that healthcare is a right not a privilege, and that a healthy community is a foundation for everything else we hope to build.
Our Invitation to You
Whether you’re a patient seeking care, a healthcare professional looking to serve, a donor wanting to make an impact, or simply someone who believes in our mission—you have a place in the Nyamigisa story.
The White Fathers who arrived in 1911 couldn’t have imagined the health center we’ve become. And we can’t yet fully imagine the hospital we’ll be. But we know this: with faith, dedication, and community support, we’ll continue healing bodies, supporting families, and strengthening our community for generations to come.
Welcome to Nyamigisa Health Centre—where over a century of compassion meets modern healthcare, where no one is turned away, and where every patient matters.
Nyamigisa Health Centre is a non-profit, Level III health facility managed by the Banyatereza Sisters and guided by a community-based Health Unit Management Committee. For more information about our services or to support our mission, visit us or contact our facility directly.