{{Kigali}} – {The United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) and Mercy, together with the Ministry of Health, have taken another step to support clinical sanitation and hygiene through the provision of hand sanitizing equipment to Kibagabaga and Muhima District Hospitals.
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The materials, which were provided through the USAID Rwanda Family Health Project – include antibacterial soap, soap dispensers, inputs for hand sanitizer, paper towels, and paper towel dispensers. The materials will support the Ministry of Health in their commitment to proper hygiene in all health facilities. Using proper hygiene practices is essential for all aspects of health care to prevent the spread of germs and disease between patients and healthcare providers – and is especially important for preventing infections during surgeries.
Officials from Mercy Hospital in Oklahoma City, part of Mercy – a U.S.-based health system – have partnered with the Ministry of Health in Rwanda and Kibagabaga and Muhima hospitals to promote quality health care since 2013. These efforts include the improvement of hospital hygiene and sanitation practices through training in order to prepare both facilities for accreditation to international standards.
”Practicing good hand hygiene between patient visits is a simple step health care providers at Kibagabaga and Muhima hospitals can take to prevent the spread of infections and potentially save lives,” said Dr. Donald Rahhal, an obstetrician and gynecologist at Mercy in Oklahoma City. “We are so thankful to USAID for funding this beneficial project that can have such an important impact on these communities.”
As large urban hospitals, both Kibagabaga and Muhima hospitals are key healthcare centers for Rwandans living in Kigali. Last year, the two hospitals received over 70,000 patients and performed over 10,000 surgeries.
USAID works with both hospitals under its Rwanda Family Health Project to improve access to quality health services in hospitals and health centers in 19 of Rwanda’s 30 districts. A portion of that support includes work with the Ministry of Health on a community-based environmental health program, which seeks to empower Rwandans to improve their hygiene and sanitation practices to reduce the spread of disease.
“The health sector is USAID’s largest area of support in Rwanda, and strengthening the system to be able to provide consistently high-quality care is a huge part of that support,” said Rob Cunnane, USAID Health Office Director. “We’re glad to have this opportunity to further this work through the donation of these critical supplies, in partnership with Mercy and the Ministry of Health.”
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The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is the foreign assistance agency of the United States Government. USAID supports $150 million of development assistance annually to Rwanda, with programs in health, economic development, education, and democracy and governance.
The USAID Rwanda Family Health Project is a $55 million project that works to increase the use of district-level facility and community-based family health services in 20 target districts in Rwanda. The project’s core results focus on improved quality, expanded access, increased demand, and strengthened management of family health services.
Mercy is the fifth largest Catholic health care system in the U.S. and serves millions annually. Mercy includes 33 acute care hospitals, four heart hospitals, two children’s hospitals, three rehab hospitals and one orthopedic hospital, nearly 700 clinic and outpatient facilities, 40,000 co-workers and more than 2,000 Mercy Clinic physicians in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. Mercy also has outreach ministries in Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.
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