Research has shown that trees and gardens speed up the patients’ recovery

Dr Nsabimana Sabin, Minister of Health, said that in many clinics, trees and gardens have made it easier for patients to recover quickly because they breathe fresh air, and that trees have helped those with mental problems.

He said this in his remarks on Saturday, November 25, during the community work “Umuganda” about planting trees and fighting against any kind of violence, an event held at Ntarama Hospital in Bugesera, attended by the Minister of Health and Minister of Gender and Family Promotion, and various stakeholders.

“Today we joined the community work to have a safe family but also a family that lives in a better place, with trees, with a garden, … Why do we plant trees in hospitals and other places? Now it’s no longer a secret, research shows that trees and gardens can work as medicine. There are many places where it has been proved that hospitals with trees and beautiful gardens, patients got discharged two days earlier than their expected time in the hospital, because where trees and gardens are, the body can recover quickly.” Dr Sabin said.

Tree and garden medicine helps people with mental health as well, “… so it reduces mental problems in people, what we call “stress”. So, gardens and trees also help clean the air we breathe and then our lungs get fresh air”.  He added.

The Minister of Health concluded his speech by urging people to plant trees wherever possible, asking them to continue to avoid any kind violence, and also reminding them to avoid alcohol abuse.

Today was about the “Green Hospital Initiative”, a program of the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment where they plan to plant two million trees in the clinics, as Dr. Sabin said, in 56 hospitals, 514 health centers, and in 1252 Health posts.

In Ntarama Hospital today, 1400 trees were planted, bringing the total to 20000 trees in the entire country.