IGIHE

Author: IGIHE

  • Rwanda among the top 10 African countries to invest in for 2018

    Rand Merchant Bank (RMB) has released its 2018 edition of Where to Invest in Africa. The report assesses the economic outlook and investment opportunities in Africa. In this seventh edition, there are significant changes in the top 10 African nations to invest in and some warnings for the future economic outlook across the continent.

    According to Nema Ramkhelawan-Bhana, African analyst of RMB, “Africa’s importance to the global economy is reflected in a number of noteworthy publications that have been distributed by respected organisations in recent years and we understand that no two businesses are alike and that they regard macroeconomic, political, social and operating variables differently.”

    Governments are gradually coming to the realisation that diversification is necessary to foster meaningful growth. But transformation cannot be achieved in isolation. Structural reforms and greater private sector participation are crucial to unlocking Africa’s potential. RMBs analysis of sectoral developments — specifically in the spheres of finance, infrastructure, resources and retail — strongly support this point of view.

    {{Top East African investment destinations}}

    Despite significant socio-political instability negatively impacting the country’s business environment and investment potential, Ethiopia has jumped up one spot into fourth as compared to fifth in the previous sixth and fifth publications. If stability came with economic progress, the now East African largest economy could have ranked higher.

    As a result of Ethiopia’s economic gains, Kenya has lost its placing as the region’s largest economy and moved down to sixth on the investment ranking. However, Kenya is still one of the continent’s strongest economies but it comes with frailties that highlight many of the key issues facing African nations: corruption, ethnic divides, political instability and rising debts.

    Also, Tanzania is now one of Africa’s most exciting investment destinations climbing up to number seven in this year’s ranking. Tanzania is hot on Kenya’s tail and it won’t surprise many to see it also overtake the region’s former leader.

    Next, another one of East Africa’s hottest prospects re-enters the top 10. Rwanda claims the eighth spot in this year’s report as the country continues to demonstrate ongoing growth and diversification.

    Top West African investment destinations

    Ghana, previously on fourth, slipped to fifth whilst remaining the most attractive investment destination in West Africa. Despite a myriad of economic challenges, the country labours on as it slowly rebuilds confidence in its processes and policies under the watchful eye of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

    Côte d’Ivoire also slips down to tenth from eighth in 2016. After years of political paralysis, the world’s top cocoa producer has earned its place in the sun, supported by a booming economy, an emerging middle class, robust infrastructure development and an improved business environment.

    Nigeria does not make it into the top ten for the first time since the report’s first edition in 2011.

    Top North African investment destinations

    Egypt for the first time unseats South Africa as the leading investment destination in Africa as it has tried to succeed in consolidating part of the economic gains accumulated in the aftermath of the Arab Spring. However, the country’s operating environment could have been an inhibiting factor as Egypt’s rise has to do more with South Africa’s decline.

    Morocco is hot on the heels of its North African peer, holding steady at number three for a second consecutive year, buoyed by solid economic growth, favourable geographic positioning, sturdy infrastructure, strong regulatory policies and a stable political setting.

    Tunisia displaces Algeria from the rankings, making it as the ninth most attractive investment destinations in Africa.

    Finally, South Africa falls to number two on the list, losing its coveted spot as a result of faltering growth outlook and uncertain business environment. Despite the streams of negative news, the country remains a bastion of institutional integrity and continues to boast as one of the best-operating environments in Africa.

    {{Below are the top 10 African countries to invest in 2018:}}

    -# Egypt
    -# South Africa
    -# Morocco
    -# Ethiopia
    -# Ghana
    -# Kenya
    -# Tanzania
    -# Rwanda
    -# Tunisia
    -# Cote d’Ivoire

    Source: VenturesAfrica

  • Culture Performance by HWPL Awakens People’s Desire for Peace in the Korean Peninsula

    Contrary to responding from hardline stances to the 6th North Korean nuclear crisis, 1,000 leaders in the field of government, NGO, religion, media, women, education from 121 countries with 150,000 Korean citizens participated in a summit for peace building in the Korean peninsula and globe.

    Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), an international NGO under the UN ECOSOC, hosted the 3rd Annual Commemoration of the World Alliance of Religions’ Peace (WARP) Summit from September 17th to 19th with the theme of “constructing collaborative governance for development and implementation of the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW).

    Along with the main venue of the event with 35,000 people held at Hwaseong Sports Complex in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, 200,000 people from 30 countries including USA, South Africa, United Kingdom, China, and the Philippines participated in the summit through live broadcasting on September 18th.

    “The work for peace and the cessation of war spans national borders, ethnicities, and religions. Who must protect our world? It is us, the family of the global village. North Korea is posing threats against the world and all humanity by their nuclear tests. But we, messengers of peace working with HWPL for the cessation of war, for world peace, and for the restoration of light for all, meet at this summit. We must be givers of grace and build a peaceful world as an everlasting legacy for our future generations” said HWPL Chairman, Man Hee Lee in his opening remarks,

    With the 10 articles of the DPCW drafted by HWPL to advocate international cooperation for peace building with participation of governments and citizens, colorful culture performances demonstrating the hope of a peaceful world was the focus of the attention from the participants.

    The tragedy of the Korean War was shown when performers taking the role of student soldiers from the two Koreas held guns pointing each other to kill. Clapping and cheering resonated when the performers dressed in child soldiers held their hands and began to sing a song “Our Wish is Reunification”. The 35,000 participants responded by singing the song while holding hands together.

    Lubna Albadawi who joined the summit as CEO of Shams Radio from Syria, said, “When I saw the soldiers’ performance of the representation of war and violence between the two Koreas, I immediately remembered the war in my country, and then when the flowers appeared from the guns and the singing began to express nonviolence and peace, I was touched and cried and wished from my heart the peace for my country “Syria” also,”

    “I think that the performances mixed with the Korean culture were amazing. Also, the speech of Chairman Lee had this bright side that he targeted not only a peace and cessation of the conflicts worldwide, but the issues with North Korea and the idea of getting the two countries reunited as they were before. Different speeches from political and religious leaders showed how everyone was concerned about making a better place on earth,” commented Boris Kouomogne Dangu, an international student from Cameroon at Hanyang University in South Korea.

    “The performance showed Koreans from the divided countries desire to become one family and nation. I was inspired by the idea that the unification should reflect people’s will from the two countries, rather than reflecting national interests in international relations. I’m looking forward to having more fruitful results from peace activities conducted by HWPL” emphasized Yun Hee Jung, a Korean citizen from Gyeonggi province of South Korea

  • German delegation commends City of Kigali master plan implementation process

    During their visit to City of Kigali this Sunday, the delegation that as well includes mayors and members of parliament were taken through the vision of Kigali City and the implementation process of the city master plan which they commended and advised to keep it all-inclusive. Minister Lewintz said that the way Rwanda is developing after the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, compares well with how Germany and Rhénanie Palatinat developed after Second World War.

    “After Second World War, Germany seemed completely demolished, everything had been razed down; it required us to reconstruct our cities. After the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi too, Rwanda and Kigali had been destroyed. It requires you to engage on a continuous reconstruction process, ” Lewintz said.

    Speaking to IGIHE, City of Kigali Mayor, Pascal Nyamulinda said that Rhénanie Palatinat officials visit Rwanda every year to observe the progress of the country in different programmes.

    City of Kigali officials told their Rhénanie Palatinat counterparts that by 2040, 90% of city dwellers will be living in affordable houses and city transportation will be smoother in a cleaner greener environment.

  • Ten Rwandans graduate with professional aviation skills in Ethiopia

    The graduation ceremony took place at the academy’s Commercial and Cabin Crew Training center on October 7, 2017, graduating
    262 aviation professionals from different African countries.

    In total, the academy has graduated 50 pilots, 66 aviation maintenance technicians, 120 cabin crew and 26 Equipment and Facility Maintenance technicians; 10 majoring in Industrial Mechanics and 16 in Industrial Electricity.

    This round of graduates includes a total of 34 Cameroonian, Rwandese, Equatorial Guinean, Togolese, and Congolese nationals, which testifies Ethiopian Pan African stance and key role in the development of African aviation.

    According to Tigrai Online, the Ethiopian Airlines Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Tewolde GebreMariam congratulated and welcomed the new graduates to the airline’s dedicated workforce, gave out diplomas to all the graduates, flight wings to graduating pilots and cabin crew and achievement award to graduates with outstanding academic performance.

    “Education is the greatest Equalizer in our world today and Human Resource Development (HRD) is one of the Four Pillars of our Vision 2025 Strategic Growth Plan. In line with this belief we have invested adequately in capacity building in the Ethiopian Aviation Academy, which is the largest and most modern in the continent of Africa,” Tewolde said

    “The Academy has been training and graduating the required Aviation Professionals both for Ethiopian Airlines Group and other partner airline around the region. It has the capacity to support our vision 2025 growth plan with adequate aviation professionals and to contribute its share towards the development of Aviation in Africa. While I congratulate today’s graduates for their success, I also wish them the best of success when they join our winning Team of strong work force,” he added.

    Currently, the academy trains 2000 aviation professionals per annum and it envisages enhancing its intake capacity to 4,000 by 2025.

    Ethiopian Aviation Academy is a full ICAO TRAINAIR plus member and IATA Accredited Training Center.

    Graduates pose in a photo with their families

  • Ministry of Health, partners commend milestones in eradicating malnutrition, stunted growth

    Gashumba was speaking Friday, during the discussions that brought together the Ministry and partners to assess the results from ‘first 1,000 days of the child’s life’ campaign. The campaign was initiated in 2013 to combat malnutrition in Rwanda.

    Gashumba said that the programme aimed at improving maternal and child health in the country through key behaviors such as breastfeeding, timely initiation of complementary feeding with balanced diet for pregnant women.

    She noted that the negligence of those key behaviours would result into stunting, or more severe disabilities.

    “Nowadays, we have a serious issue of malnutrition where children are suffering from stunted growth. This is a result of irresponsible parents with poor mentalities,” she said.

    Southern and Western Province districts have the largest number of children with stunted growth.

    “We still have about 38% of children with a stunting growth. This is a very serious issue, because contrary to what people think, stunting does not only affect children physically, but also it affects them mentally,” Gashumba explained.

    “This further implies that the child may have delayed mental development and therefore poor school performance” she added.

    UNICEF Country Director, Ted Maly commended the initiative for raising knowledge about preparation of balanced diet for children below five and pregnant women from way back in 2013.

    “This initiative was of great help in our objectives because the current 38% of children with stunted growth has reduced from 44% in 2010. Based on what has been done, we believe that people will change mindsets and embrace programmes leading to feeding balanced diet for children,” Maly said

    {{Way Forward}}

    The recent Cabinet Meeting appointed Dr. Anita Asiimwe, the Early Childhood Development (ECD) Coordinator. ECD is expected to combat malnutrition from village level.

    Gashumba said that through ECD, parents will understand their role in growth of their children through nourishing them on a well balanced diet.

    “ECD will remind parents to take care on children’s growth. On the village level, poor families will be supported. We shall be able to know whether the child was nourished with well balanced diet” she added.

    Gasumba is optimistic that collective efforts from different institutions would help ending malnutrition and stunting growth among children.

    UNICEF Country Director, Ted Maly
    The Minister of Health, Dr Diane Gashumba
    The Minister of Health, Dr Diane Gashumba with RBC Representative, Dr Condo Umutesi Jeannine
    Several supporting artists attended the event
    Artist Platini from Dream Boys; singing in the 'first 1,000 days of the child's life' campaign

    {{Photos: Moise Niyonzima}}

  • The alarming reason you should be concerned that male breast cancer is on the rise

    The American Cancer Society estimates that, compared with 231,840 new cases of breast cancer in women, 2,350 cases of male breast cancer will be diagnosed by the end of 2015. Of these new cases, an estimated 440 men will die of breast cancer this year alone.

    The numbers of male diagnoses seem slim in comparison to women’s. But it’s important to note that male breast cancer is often much more dangerous.

    Janell Seeger, M.D., an oncologist with the Norton Cancer Institute in Louisville, KY, explained to USA Today that that the lack of tissue in male breasts is both a blessing and a curse. Because male breast tissue is less dense, it can be easier to detect small masses. But the lack of tissue also means that cancer can grow faster, reaching the nipple, skin, chest muscles or lymph nodes more quickly. In many cases, by the time a man’s breast cancer is detected, it has already spread to other areas of the body. As a result, the diagnosis can be more severe.

    Lynda Weeks, executive director of Susan G. Komen Louisville, said male breast cancer is relatively unusual. “The [rate of diagnosis in men] is approximately one in 1,000, so it’s far less than females, but typically men are diagnosed at a later stage,” she told USA Today.

    But over the last 25 years, the rate has risen 26 percent.

    Take the heartbreaking example of Meg and Gerard Campion. Both Meg and Gerard were diagnosed with breast cancer, only years apart. When Meg Campion learned her husband had been diagnosed, she told ABC News, “It was obviously shocking. I think my first thought was, ‘He’s not supposed to have this, I am.’”

    The couple now devotes their time to raising awareness for male breast cancer.

    “Eighty percent of men don’t realize they can contract breast cancer,” Meg Campion told ABC.

    Though breast cancer may seem like a female-centric disease, it’s important to remember that men can develop it as well. Those with a history of breast cancer or an inherited gene mutation should do monthly self breast exams, and men with a higher risk of the cancer should begin clinical breast exams every 6 to 12 months starting at age 35.
    Source:www.yahoo.com

  • Rwanda, Africa’s new seat of tourism

    This playful scene unfolds just 3m from where I stand in the Volcanoes National Park of Rwanda. Although the official guideline is to maintain a distance of at least 7m between human and gorilla, the limited space in the clearing allows a more intimate experience.

    For about an hour, we observe the fascinating and familiar mannerisms of the gorillas and delight in the mischievous nature of the babies.

    Every September, baby gorillas are named. The newly christened babies last month include Isuku (cleanliness), Uruyange (shiny flowers) and Inkeshya (mountain gorillas are stars). There is also Ubudasa (unique and remarkable), Inyange (handsome and smart) and, reflecting the Rwandan technology drive, Ikoranabuhanga (technology), among other names.

    Kwita Izina, the gorilla-naming ceremony, is one symbol of Rwanda’s ardour for the conservation of its natural world.

    {{Kinigi, the village nearest Volcanoes National Park }} (www.volcanoesnationalparkrwanda.com), is a drive of two to three hours from the capital of Kigali. And from my Belgian-owned La Paillotte guesthouse in Kinigi, it is only 10 minutes on the road to the park headquarters, where we are introduced to the etiquette of meeting the gorilla family that will soon fascinate us.

    The mountains in the distance, lightly shrouded by mist, are an excellent backdrop for the traditional welcome Intore dance by the Rwandese dancers.

    Arriving around 9am, the weather is cool with a burst of sunshine, and we do not need to wear our jackets.

    Our guide paces the hike for us and when we reach the entrance to the park, one of the armed park rangers follows us around the gorilla’s enclave. It is our lucky day as the gorillas are lounging very close to the park border.

    The expedition is worth the permit fee of US$1,500 (S$2,045) that each foreign tourist pays. This goes towards the conservation of the endangered mountain gorillas in the vast park, which spans the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and Rwanda.

    Rwanda, a small African nation of just 26,338 sq km (in comparison to South Africa, which is a sprawling 1.22 million sq km), is a land-locked country bordering Burundi, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is about 40 times the size of Singapore.

    With a disciplined and efficient government, it has developed rapidly, aiming to eradicate poverty and become a middle-income country by 2020.

    Tourism is developing at a fast pace and the biodiversity attracts visitors from all over the world. Moreover, with the peace and stability that characterises Rwanda, conservation efforts have yielded great rewards and international praise for the country.
    {{LEAVING THE PAST BEHIND}}

    Kigali paints a serene picture, with romantic waves of rolling hills visible in much of the city.

    Women dress in vibrant colours, complementing its greenery. At night, the sky transforms into Van Gogh’s Starry Night. A view from the top of the hills makes the city look as if there is an endless burst of stars suspended not only in the sky, but across the land as well.

    The spirit of the people here is that of eagerness for a prosperous future and the Rwandese encourage their children to obtain academic or vocational achievements for the betterment of their lives.

    As we are strolling by the scenic twin lakes of Bulera and Ruhondo, my Rwandese friend and I meet a seven-year-old girl wearing a bright pink sweater. We ask her about her education and she shyly replies that she is in Grade 2 and is second in her class.

    Since 2008, the government has ordered the language of instruction in schools to be English, attesting to Rwanda’s ambition to establish business networks with global partners in Europe and Asia.

    Today, Rwanda has gained international recognition for its efforts in poverty alleviation, environmental conservation (solar panels), cutting-edge technology (the KivuWatt energy plant on Lake Kivu), increased connectivity (fibre-optic cables laid and buses with Wi-Fi) and so much more.

    This stands in stark contrast to common beliefs held about the country – that it is unsafe and unable to move beyond its tragic history. Between April and July 1994, hundreds and thousands of Rwandese – mostly of the minority Tutsi ethnicity – were murdered in the most rapid genocide. Most of the killers belonged to the Hutu ethnic majority.

    The tragedy, however, seems to have spurred a desire for socio-economic progress, regardless of ethnicity.

    It is this drive towards meritocracy, conveyed in a news article that dubbed Rwanda as the Singapore of Africa, that piqued my interest to visit the country in December last year.

    Further research unveiled that Singapore and Rwanda share a good relationship that has borne fruit, including the Rwanda Development Board, modelled after Singapore’s Economic Development Board, and vocational training institutes similar to the Institutes of Technical Education here.

    We walk through the immaculate streets of Rwanda, paved and devoid of trash, with a dustbin on every corner. I have no trouble getting mobile broadband access, a luxury, I am told, that one cannot always count on in other African nations.

    Modern life has definitely taken root in Kigali, which has a well-structured airport, law-abiding citizens and cosmopolitan fare. Apart from Asian restaurants such as Zen Oriental Cuisine and Asian Kitchen, there are also Western eateries such as German Butchery, Sole Luna and Trattoria, which also serve excellent African buffets.

    The newest addition to the landscape is the Kigali Convention Centre, which can house 5,000 delegates and has played host to international conferences such as the World Economic Forum and the African Union Summit.

    The dome-shaped building is modelled after the King’s Palace in Nyanza and, when it lights up at night, it looks as though it is revolving. One can spot it at a distance while dining at Pili Pili (pilipili.rw), a restaurant atop a hill in the Kimironko neighbourhood, which serves the best African grilled chicken in Kigali.

    {{LAKE PARADISE}}

    Rwanda may be landlocked, but it has not let this get in the way of becoming a beachgoer’s paradise.

    Gisenyi is a town 21/2 hours west of Kigali, located at the doorstep of Lake Kivu, one of the Great Lakes in the Albertine Rift Valley. The area is peppered with hotels, including Lake Kivu Serena Hotel (www.serenahotels.com/serenalakekivu/default-en.html).

    I chance upon it one morning while in search of a cup of coffee and a place to admire Lake Kivu from. When asked where the best vantage point is, the ever so hospitable staff go out of their way to set up a table on a private lakeside area.

    From there, I see the vast expanse of the lake, estimated to cover 2,700 sq km. I cannot see the other side and, with the light breeze and sand beneath my feet, it feels as if I am on a tranquil beach.

    I pillion-ride on a moto-taxi – motorcycle taxis are the main mode of transport here – to a brewery called Bralirwa (www.bralirwa.com/cms), where I take in the brewing process of the national beer, Primus, a pale lager.

    Strolling down the road from the brewery, lined with small village huts, I see a fleet of fishermen on their wooden boats. The calm and soothing hymns from a nearby church can be heard as I greet the smiling villagers with “Muraho”, which means hello in Kinyarwanda.

    In that moment, I see Rwanda for what it is – a beautiful tapestry woven with myriad threads, telling the story of a nation that has emerged from its dark past to embrace modernity, without forgetting its roots and traditions.

    THE STRAITS TIMES

    • The writer is a history and social studies teacher

  • Kagame assures Catholic Church on renewed partnership

    Kagame made the remark during the celebration of 100 year jubilee of sacerdotal service in Rwanda on Saturday in Muhanga.

    The head of state emphasized lessons to learn from the government’s relation with Catholic Church in the past 100 years.

    He said that priests and the church have played a big role in life and history of the country.

    “Those activities include promoting Kinyarwanda language itself as the foundation of our culture. They developed writing skills, documented history, culture of the country and initiated research in traditional healing practices,”

    Speaking about the discussions he had with Pope Francis in March this year, Kagame said that the government of Rwanda has had meaningful results and renewed partnership with the Catholic Church.

    “Pope Francis leadership marks a new chapter in history, one that looks to the future and well being of Rwandans. We have the opportunity to learn from our past, focus on our future because we all have the same goal: to serve Rwandans. This chapter of our history is an opportunity for new partnership that serves the people of Rwanda: Let us work together to transform the lives of our citizens and ensuring no one is left behind”, the president observed.

    Kagame reminded that the Catholic Church and Rwandan government should learn from the past and peek lessons that will allow them to take cooperation forward.

    “Nowadays, with politics and governance of the country, we have an opportunity to assess the past, so that our plans and visionbecome constructive to population regardless to their origin,” he said.

    He called on Catholic Church leaders to work closely with the government to meet their responsibilities of enhancing welfare of Rwandans.

    “Be it government or Church, we work together by serving Rwandans, ‘Christians’. We should not put this opportunity to waste. We need to add more efforts, simply, I thank Pope Francis for the opportunity he gave Rwanda to take the good cooperation forward,” Kagame added.

    Kagame said that he shares with the church the target of developing the country.

    “Actually, we share many things; we share Rwandanhood, human hood, and we all wish to be good people with dignity by looking forward than focusing on the past,” he said.

    During Kagame’s visit in Vatican, Pope Francis apologized on behalf of Catholic Church that got involved in the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.

  • 1 in 8 women get breast cancer, but it’s shocking how little most know about the disease

    She went public with the news on Thursday in a sobering social media post that simultaneously called for support of a universal health care system.

    “1 in 8 women get breast cancer. Today I am the one,” Louis-Dreyfus wrote in her post. “The good news is that I have the most glorious group of supportive and caring family and friends, and fantastic insurance through the union. The bad news is that not all women are so lucky, so let’s all fight all cancers and make universal health care a reality.”

    Earlier this month, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., announced his proposal for a single-payer health care system, or one in which the government would be the only one paying for health expenses (as opposed to the current system, in which insurance companies, state governments, and the federal government all manage these costs for different groups of people).

    The Sanders proposal seeks to slowly phase all Americans into this kind of system over a four-year timespan; doing this would require dropping the Medicare eligibility age in stages until all are covered. In this kind of system, all American citizens would, by default, have insurance coverage.

    According to a 2016 Planned Parenthood survey of 1,104 adult U.S. women, 82 percent say they understand when women should start being checked for breast cancer and 84 percent say they know how often those checks should continue; still, only 4 percent actually knew at what age — 21 — screenings should begin. Thirty percent wrongly thought that breast cancer screenings for women should not begin until age 40, along with her first mammogram.

    Sixteen percent of women polled said they had never been checked for breast cancer, with another 3 percent saying they were unsure if they ever had. In addition, 23 percent of women said they did not know when they should next get checked for breast cancer, while 27 percent of black women, 28 percent of Hispanic women, and 12 percent of white women said they don’t think they are at risk for developing breast cancer.

    “Some breast cancer risks can’t be be controlled, like your age or having a family history of ovarian or breast cancer. But there are things you can do to reduce your risk, like maintaining a helath weight and exercising regularly, limiting the amount of alcohol you drink, avoiding chemicals linked to cancer, and not smoking,” Dr. Raegan McDonald-Mosley, Chief Medical Officer of Planned Parenthood Federation tells Yahoo Lifestyle

    According to a Practice Bulletin published this July by the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women in the U.S. and the second leading cause of cancer death in American women; breast cancer accounts for 30 percent of all new cases of cancer diagnoses in women.

    Still, ACOG notes, breast cancer mortality rates have decreased substantially during the past 50 years; the present five-year survival rate is 90 percent, compared with 75 percent in the past.

    While the group no longer recommends breast self-examinations in average-risk women, it does recommend that a clinical breast exam be offered to these women by their health care provides every one to three years.

    “Get to know what your breasts feel like and let your doctor or nurse know if you find a lump or notice any other changes. The most common breast cancer symptom is a lump in your breast or in your armpit. Other things besides cancer can cause lumps, so finding one doesn’t definitely mean you have cancer — but it’s important to get checked out if you do find a lump. Other possible symptoms are swelling or pain in your breast or nipple, dimples in the skin of your breast, or skin that’s red, flaky, or thicker than normal on your breast or nipple. It’s also possible for breast cancer not to cause any noticeable symptoms until the disease has developed more,” McDonald-Mosley notes.

    She continues: “Breast cancer screenings can’t prevent cancer, but they can help to find cancer earlier, when it is easier to treat. Women should ask their provider about their recommended screening schedule, based on their age, family history, and other risk factors. Under the Affordable Care Act, preventive cancer screenings are covered by insurance without a copay. And whether you have insurance or not, you can always come to Planned Parenthood.”

    Louis-Dreyfus fans reacted to her news with tweets of sadness and support, with many joining the star in spreading helpful messages to other women, as well as standing up for universal health care coverage.

    “Taking the best possible care of yourself can sometimes feel hard. We understand that people may put off cancer screenings due to time, cost, or anxiety, or because they don’t know when they’re due for a screening. It might feel easier for you or a loved one to delay screenings — especially if you feel healthy — but preventive care is just too important to avoid,” emphasizes McDonald-Mosley.

    She concludes, “Friends and family can help by talking about the importance of early detection. Talk to the women in your life — your mother, sisters, aunts, cousins, and friends — about getting screened for breast cancer. Ask if they know their recommended breast cancer screenings and if they’re up to date. When was the last time they had a check-up? If they aren’t going in for screenings, ask why. See if you can help them overcome whatever is preventing them from getting care.”

    Source: www.yahoo.com

  • RDB awards best service providers

    The awarded are individuals nominated from public and private institutions. They include Antoinette Kayitesi, a receptionist at Access Bank Rwanda; Dr. Mouhammed Okasha from Legacy Clinic; Jean Pierre Kizito, Notary in the Ministry of Justice; Sylivanus Kagiraneza, a Security Officer at I&M Bank; Eveline Gafirigi Mutesi from Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB); Morris Ndekwe from Vine Pharmacy; Etienne Uwiringiyimana from Nyaruguru District; Denis Ngoga from Galaxy Hotel and Senior Sergeant Alexis Murenzi a Traffic Police Officer.

    Previously, Antoinette Kayitesi (among awarded) was a Security Officer at Access Bank but was later promoted to a receptionist after considering her dedication to the promotion of customer care values.

    The Director of Service department in RDB, Emmanuel Nsabimana said that Rwandans have started to appreciate the importance of providing good services, though much still needs to be done.

    “As you know we are yet to reach 100% in customer satisfaction. We still have some examples where there are bad services. We are still sensitizing. People should change their mindsets –employees and managers, I believe that if managers take this into account, good services will become a Rwandan culture,” he said.