Rwanda, Burundi and Democratic Republic of Congo have agreed to strengthen their collaboration in fighting epidemics in the region.
In a three day retreat involving health practitioners in Gisenyi town, the participants agreed on sharing resources at the same time improving primary health.
Uzziel Ndagijimana, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of health (MINISANTE) emphasized that a lot of efforts are being put in place to ensure quality healthcare in the rural areas.
The Belgian Development Cooperation (BTC) through its health projects has been equipping rural hospitals with medical equipments.
He further revealed that Korean government is about to donate two mobile clinics which will operate like an ambulance but with more sophisticated tools and services.
“The aim is to deliver better medical services in the rural areas, on top of that we intend to construct more health centers since our target is ensuring that patients walk for less than an hour to receive treatment,” he explained.
The Permanent secretary further pointed out that ministry of health intends to buy more ambulances, the target being at least five ambulances in every district.
“We’re not far from achieving this since most districts have four ambulances,” Ndagijimana said.
Karel Gyselink, the president of Because-Health who was also one of the retreat’s sponsors stressed the need of implementing quality health services at the grass root level.
Here he meant that, health centers for instance ought to be in a capacity to offer basic medical services like minor surgeries, psychotherapy and other emergency healthcare services.
He also commended the retreat especially on experience sharing whereby best practices are expected to be integrated.
“I’m so fascinated with Rwanda’s health insurance mutuelle de santé but I recommend that there should me more counselors in local dispensaries,” he remarked.
He emphasized that as far as Rwanda is progressing in offering curative and preventive medication literally meaning healing patients physically, mental health on the other part is also important.
He referred to DRC for instance, where a society meets and discusses openly some of the issues they facing such domestic violence, drug abuse or even economic issues, indeed this has helped improve the mental health of a community and has reduced cases of depression and trauma.
In terms of collaboration, Dr. Ferrand Katembe from DRC’s Kasai district noted that joint effort was timely, especially now when there’s outbreak of chicken pox disease in minors.
“This disease is believed to come from Burundi and it has spread through movements at the borders,” said Katembe.
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