According to International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Rwanda, there is one doctor per over 15, 000 people.
In England or Belgium, a doctor is in charge of 600 people In order to ensure a better healthcare for the population, meanwhile the Ministry of health has planned to have one doctor per 10,000 citizens by 2020.
In an interview with a patient at CHUB who was treated under surgery operation he mentioned that, he waited for almost a month to be treated.
The fact is there are few doctor specialized in this surgery operation available at the hospital and it takes time to be confirmed on the list of those who will be treated.
A parent with a child to be operated said, “sometimes we have to wait to be transferred to Kigali and during the waiting, the patient suffers more than before and it may result into death without meeting doctor”
Sebineza Joseph from Ministry of health in charge of Public Health facilities explains that the gap in health sector is known and its why there are partnerships with IOM for Africa Development and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation to enhance the linkage of the Rwanda Diaspora with their home country as well as other agreements as a way to increase the effort invested in healthcare.
This is done through facilitating volunteers including; qualified Rwandan health professionals living abroad and other foreigners that wish to make meaningful contribution to public health sector development effort in Rwanda by sharing their knowledge, experience and talent, donation of their time and effort to save lives and help the country to achieve its ambitious health and Millennium goals.
Dr Nicholas Capello of IOM Rwanda Project volunteer, is an orthopedic surgeon from USA volunteering at the university Teaching Hospital of Butare known as CHUB.
He told IGIHE that there is a big number of patients and few specialist doctor to handle the patients, “This is very challenging. The number of specialists is currently limited compared to the number of cases to be treated, but we have to appreciate what is going on for the progression.”
Before the arrival of Dr Nicholas, it wasn’t easy to operate patients most of whom were refered to university Teaching Hospital of Kigali (CHUK).
However, with Dr. Capellos help the challenge has been overcome. He also teaches undergraduate and postgraduate medical students.
CHUB’s Dr. Dr Ndoli said that government may keep looking for the projects like IOM and increasing sensitization campaign about Volunteer programs.
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