Dual Clinical Practice refers to clinical work, which may be undertaken physically within or outside public health facilities and within or outside providers’ contracted hours of public sector employment. Furthermore, a worker is able to receive remuneration on a contractual basis within their same respective public health facility.
“The Ministry of Health recognizes that dual clinical practice is beneficial in the health sector, conversely with the capacity to enforce regulations that allow patients to get health care services in public health facilities,” said Dr Daniel Ngamije, the Minister of Health.
A set of modalities have already been set in the Dual Clinical Practice to ensure that health practitioners have reasonable workloads and clients still get quality services.
According to the Ministry’s statement, Medical doctors and dental surgeons will do dual clinical practice in their appointed public health facility on a contractual basis after allocated working hours.
They, however, are allowed to provide services in one private health facility during their days off and weekends. Under specific circumstances and after assessment, the Minister of Health may authorize a Medical Doctor or a Dental Surgeon to practice in an additional public hospital.
Also, to ensure that services provided do not compromise the quality of care and patient safety, the number of patients managed and procedures performed in dual clinical practice shall not exceed fifty percent (50%) of those performed during the normal working hours.
The Ministry of Health, after assessing requests from health facilities, shall allow them to start operating dual clinical practice. Health facilities will also be required to set up an electronic system to monitor visits, acts, procedures, and generated incomes.
The Ministry of Health shall commission an independent assessment of the Dual Clinical Practice implementation after the first six (6) months to inform policy review and decision making.
In Nyabihu District, one Francois Niyonzima, 34, was intercepted in Mukamira Sector, on November 27, trafficking 30kgs of cannabis on a motorcycle.
Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Bonaventure Twizere Karekezi, the Police spokesperson for the Western region, said that Niyonzima, a commercial motorcyclist operating in Musanze District and a resident of Kinigi Sector, is part of the drug trafficking syndicate, whose role is to transport the narcotics mainly from Rubavu to other destinations in different parts of the country.
“Niyonzima, was on the list of drug traffickers. On November 27, Police received credible information that he was headed to Kigali from Rubavu District with two bundles of cannabis on a motorcycle,” CIP Karekezi said.
He added: “A Police roadblock was mounted in Mukamira, Nyabihu District, but Niyonzima was stubborn and violent… he refused to stop when officers stopped him. They trailed him but he threw one bundle of cannabis in the road to cause mayhem and to lead the Police vehicle, which was trailing him, into an accident; however, his plan did not work.
During the chase, residents intercepted him, but he was armed with a machete and tried to harm them. Fortunately, realised that he was outnumbered and Police officers were armed. He gave-in and was taken into custody.”
CIP Karekezi disclosed that law enforcement organs have since identified two other members of the same syndicate, including the alleged rightful owner of the narcotics in Kigali.
“We know Niyonzima got the narcotics from another supplier in Bugeshi Sector in Rubavu, at a place called Kubukombe. We also know that he was hired by one Dieudonne Nshimiyimana to deliver the narcotics to him in Kigali. Nshimiyimana was actually with Niyonzima in Rubavu and was riding ahead of him (Niyonzima), acting as a spotter. When he realised that Niyonzima had been spotted by the Police, he fled prior.”
Available information indicate that Nshimiyimana had paid Niyonzima Frw40,000 to transport the narcotics to Kigali and it was the second time that the duo was working together in the same criminal deal, having succeeded in their first attempt.
Niyonzima was handed over to RIB at Mukamira station for further legal process.
“Most of the successful operations include major dealers on the list compiled with the help of the general public and local leaders. Operations are continuous with the ultimate goal of breaking chains of supply and to kill the consumption market through awareness.”
Elsewhere, in Kirehe District, Police foiled trafficking of two sacks of cannabis weighing 72kgs, which were being sneaked into Rwanda from Burundi through Akagera River in Gahara Sector.
“Four people, who were trafficking the sacks of cannabis, abandoned them and fled back to Burundi after seeing Police officers,” CIP Hamdun Twizeyimana, the Police spokesperson for the Eastern region, said.
The four drug traffickers said to be Burundi nationals, he said, were reported by local authorities in Murehe Cell of Gahara Sector.
In this week alone six big drug dealers have been arrested.
On November 23, another taxi-moto operator was intercepted in Jomba Sector, Nyabihu District transporting about 10,000 pellets of cannabis.
Four other suspected drug traffickers, who are members of the same chain of supply, were arrested the following day in Nyabihu and Kigali with combined 6500 rolls of cannabis.
The Ministerial Order No. 001/MoH/2019 of 04/03/2019 establishing the list of narcotic drugs and their categorization classifies cannabis as a “very severe drug.”
The law determining offences and penalties in general in Rwanda, especially in its article 263, provides an imprisonment of between 20 years and life, for anyone convicted for very severe narcotic drugs and a fine of up to Rwf30 million.
The cardinals were installed in a ceremony, known as a consistory that was markedly slimmed down because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The ceremony held on Saturday was attended by in-service Cardinals and 11 cardinal-elects among 13 recently appointed by Pope Francis on 25th October 2020.
Cardinals from Brunei and the Philippines could not travel and will receive their ring and biretta from a papal delegate.
Instead of the usual thousands, only 10 guests per cardinal were allowed in St. Peter’s Basilica as the pope gave the men their ring and traditional red hat, known as a biretta.
Nine of the 13 are under 80 and eligible under Church law to enter a secret conclave to choose the next pope from among themselves after Francis dies or resigns.
It was Francis’ seventh consistory since his election in 2013. He has now appointed 57% of the 128 cardinal electors, most of whom share his vision of a more inclusive and outward-looking Church.
Thus far, he has appointed 18 cardinals from mostly far-flung countries that never had one, nearly all of them from the developing world including Antoine Kambanda becoming Rwanda’s first ever cardinal.
While Europe still has the largest share of cardinal electors, with 41%, it is down from 52% in 2013 when Francis became the first Latin-American pope.
With each consistory, Francis has increased the chances that his successor will be another non-European, having beefed up the church in places where it is either a tiny minority or where it is growing faster than in the stagnant West.
The nine new electors come from Italy, Malta, Rwanda, the United States, the Philippines, Chile, Brunei and Mexico.
In his homily, Francis told the men to keep their eyes on God, avoid all forms of corruption, and not succumb to a “worldly spirit” that can accompany the prestige and power of their new rank.
Everyone in the basilica except the pope wore a mask. Each new cardinal removed his own when he knelt to be invested.
Four non-electors over 80 were given the honor after a long service to the church.
The most prominent is Archbishop Silvano Tomasi, an Italian-American who has worked around the world and is one of the church’s top experts on immigration.
Rwanda’s Cardinal, Kambanda is expected to continue exercising his role as the Archbishop of Kigali Diocese though he is elevated in high rank of Cardinal.
Rwanda becomes the 24th African country with a Cardinal.
Kambanda was born on 10th November 1958. He is among Rwandans ordained priests by Pope Jean Paul II on 8th September 1990 during his visit to Rwanda.
Pope Francis had appointed Kambanda Bishop of Kibungo Diocese in May 2013 and later in 2018 Archbishop of Kigali Diocese.
{{Names of new Cardinals installed by Pope Francis}}
– Archbishop Marcello Semeraro,73, Italian, prefect of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Causes of Saints.
– Archbishop Antoine Kambanda, Rwandan, 62, Archbishop of Kigali.
– Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory, American, 72, Archbishop of Washington D.C.
– Archbishop Jose F. Advincula, 68, Filipino, Archbishop of Capiz.
– Archbishop Celestino Aos Braco, 75, Spanish, archbishop of Santiago, Chile.
– Archbishop Cornelius Sim, 69, Brunei, apostolic vicar of Brunei
– Archbishop Augusto Paolo Lojudice, 56, Italian, archbishop of Siena, Italy.
– Father Mauro Gambetti, 55, Italian, custodian of the Franciscan convent of St. Francis in Assisi.
New cardinals over 80 years old and being honoured for their long service to the Church. They cannot enter a conclave.
– Bishop Felipe Arizmendi Esquivel, 80, Mexican, bishop-emeritus of San Cristobal de las Casas, Mexico.
– Archbishop Silvano Tomasi, 80, Italian, archbishop, former ambassador, expert on immigration.
– Father Raniero Cantalamessa, 86, Italian, long-time preacher of the papal household
– Father Enrico Feroci, 80, Italian, pastor of the Divino Amore sanctuary in Rome.
The Church’s Code of Canon Law states, “Those promoted as cardinals are men freely selected by the Roman Pontiff, who are at least in the order of presbyterate and are especially outstanding for their doctrine, morals, piety, and prudence in action; those, however, who are not yet bishops must receive episcopal consecration” (Canon 351).
An earlier text in the Code describes the tasks that fall to cardinals. It remarks cardinals elect the pope and provide assistance when the pontiff summons them together to discuss matters of particular importance.
Cardinals also assist the pope in less visible ways, such as when they serve as the administrative directors of various Vatican offices.
Established in 2010, Rwanda Correctional Service (RCS) was the result of merging the former National Prisons Service and the Executive Secretariat of National Committee of Community Services as an alternative penalty to imprisonment.
RCS has transformed into an institution that rehabilitates inmates into more responsible citizens upon release.
During celebrations held yesterday, RCS Commissioner General, CG George Rwigamba explained that the institution has over the past ten years achieved a lot including expansion of prisons, revising inmates correction strategies and providing them with Mutuelle de Sante.
“We have expanded activities over the past ten years that we currently have 13 prisons. One of them is Nyagatare Juvenile Prison designed to meet human rights requirements. In the meantime, four new prisons were constructed and renovated many more. Before, prison infrastructures were old, small and lacking essentials to correct inmates appropriately,” he said.
The institution is also proud to have changed mindsets that prisons are no longer perceived for painful penalties but rather a chance for correction whereby inmates acquire different skills for survival as they are reintegrated in the community.
However, RCS says, inmates’ transformed livelihoods should not give room for offenses.
Anastase Nabahire, the Justice, Reconciliation, Law and Order Sector Secretariat Coordinator in the Ministry of Justice who represented the Minister of Justice during the ceremony hailed RCS contribution in shaping inmates’ behaviors and equipping them with different skills.
Since inception, RCS increased prison warders from 1000 to 2000.
As of today, Rwanda has 13 prisons accommodating over 75,000 inmates.
The handover took place this Saturday at RAF headquarters in Remera in presence of Germany ambassador in Rwanda, Dr Thomas Kurz and RAF President , Fidèle Mubiligi.
Received kits include starting-blocks, shotput, discus, javelin and baton relays.
Dr Thomas Kurz revealed that the donations align with efforts to support athletics in Rwanda and assured continues support in different areas.
“It is part of existing partnership. Even though some activities were suspended due to COVID-19, we hope they will resume next year and continue training coaches like we did last year in November. Some coaches are given scholarship for training in Germany and hope to continue doing so,” he said.
The President of RAF, Fidèle Mubiligi explained there was a gap before receiving the equipment.
“We had shortage of such equipment yet available ones are outdated. It will help us to prepare our athletes to get familiar with better equipment and use them accordingly during international competitions,” he said.
RAF also revealed that these equipment will enable to organize more competitions that were suspended over scarce resources.
In Kigali, one Kennedy Ngirabakunzi was arrested in Intwali Village, Rwampara Cell of Nyarugenge Sector in Nyarugenge District, in possession of 40kgs of Cassiterite.
Ngirabakunzi had allegedly acquired the minerals from another suspected illegal mineral dealer in Rutonde Cell, Shyorongi Sector in Rulindo District, according to the Police.
“Following information from a resident that Ngirabakunzi is an illegal mineral dealer and had acquired some quantities of Cassiterite from another mineral dealer in Shyorongi, he was intercepted in Nyarugenge with 40kgs. He was at the time transporting the precious minerals on a motorcycle, which was also impounded,” said Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Sylvestre Twajamahoro, the Police spokesperson for the City of Kigali.
Four others were arrested in Kamonyi District. They include the trio of Jean de Dieu Ndahimana, Sandrine Niyoniringira and Tito Hagenimana, who were arrested in Rukoma Sector with 26.5kgs of coltan; and Samuel Mugisha, who was arrested in Kayenzi Sector where he was found mining.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Theobald Kanamugire, the Police spokesperson for the Southern region, said that the separate operations had been planned and targeted individuals and groups listed as illegal minerals dealers.
“Ndahimana, Niyoniringira and Hagenimana were on the list of illegal minerals dealers in Kamonyi. On Wednesday night, Police received information that Ndahimana and Niyoniringira had brought new consignments of minerals at their homes in Bugoba and Mwirute cells, respectively.
During the Police search at about 5am on Thursday, officers recovered 20kgs of coltan from the house of Niyoniringira and 6.5kgs in the house of Ndahimana,” said SP Kanamugire.
“Later that early morning, Police officers directed their operations at the coltan concession in Rukoma, from where they got the minerals. They caught their accomplice Hagenimana at the site with a generator, spades, torches and a weighing scale, which they were using in illegal mining as well as a motorcycle, which they were using to transport the minerals,” he added.
Meanwhile, Samuel Mugisha was arrested at a mining concession located in Kayenzi Sector, Bugarama Cell in Buhurura Village.
“Besides dealing in minerals or conducting mining illegally, the two concessions in Rukoma and Kayenzi are no longer in use. They were closed over safety concerns and entering in these tunnels is like committing suicide. Targeted operations against these unlawful and life-threatening activities are continuous,” SP Kanamugire warned.
Article 54 of the law on mining and quarry operations, states that; “any person, who undertakes mineral or quarry exploration, exploitation, processing or trading without a licence commits an offence.”
Upon conviction, the offender is liable to imprisonment for a term of between two and six months and a fine of not less than Rwf1 million and not more than Rwf5 million or only one of these penalties.
The court also orders confiscation of any seized minerals or quarry in storage, trading or processing without a license.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Theobald Kanamugire, the Police spokesperson for the Southern region, said that the illegal gathering was reported by residents in the area.
“Residents had reported that this specific religious group converges in the forest every Thursday. Reacting to this information, security organs and local leaders, on Thursday, went to the forest where the 42 people were found gathered, praying. Majority of them are members of ADEPR Church from the sectors of Gishubi, Mamba and Muganza,” said SP Kanamugire.
The violators include 28 women and nine men, with five children. 32 violators are residents of Muganza Sector; seven came from Gishubi Sector while three others are from Mamba.
“They were close to each other, no social distancing and only nine of them wore a facemask. They were fined for the violations, but were also enlightened on the pandemic, the way it’s transmitted or spread, national directives and health guidelines that must be followed,” the spokesperson said.
He thanked the residents, who reported the unlawful gathering and reminded the general public that Coronavirus is a serious and deadly virus spread by people due to their inappropriate behaviours and actions that are contrary to the directives and safety guidelines.
The statement released last night shows that new cases were found in Kigali 4, Rubavu 7, Nyamagabe 5, Gatsibo 4 and Musanze 1.
The latest figures bring the total number of COVID-19 cases to 5872 and 5872 recoveries. 428 are active cases while 47 have succumbed to the pandemic.
The first COVID-19 case was confirmed in Rwanda on 14th March 2020.
Coronavirus symptoms include coughing, flu, and difficulty in breathing. The virus is said to be transmitted through the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract.
Rwandans are required to continue to comply with government regulations, especially with frequent washing of hands and water and soap, wearing masks when leaving home or in public.
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the US has topped 13 million, as experts warn that holiday gatherings will send that number soaring further.
The number of COVID-19 patients being treated in hospitals across the United States reached 90,000 on Friday after nearly doubling in the last month.
The rate of hospitalizations – now at the highest since the pandemic began – has pushed some medical centers beyond capacity.
The rapid increase comes after weeks of rising infection rates across the country and sees the total number of infections since the pandemic began pushed beyond 13 million, with 264,000 deaths.
Currently, Americans are dying from the disease at a rate of around 65 an hour but the rates of infection are likely to worsen as people who mingled with friends and relatives over Thanksgiving gradually get sick, health experts say.
‘This is the reality we face when COVID-19 is allowed to spread unchecked – ICUs at capacity, not enough health care workers available,’ wrote New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham in a tweet on Friday.
There were 880 people hospitalized with COVID-19 on Friday in New Mexico. The state is under a lockdown to stem the spread of the coronavirus, with all non-essential businesses closed and residents told to stay home.
A hospital in rural Curry County was the latest to reach capacity in its intensive care unit earlier this week, according to the county’s Facebook page.
Many health experts and politicians pleaded with Americans to refrain from gathering for their traditional communal Thanksgiving feasts this year, warning that socializing between households would accelerate the rate of community transmission and push an already strained healthcare system to the brink.
Some abided by the public health guidance, spending their Thanksgiving on Thursday seeing their family over video calls. But others chose to travel anyway.
On the day before Thanksgiving, typically one of the busiest travel days of the year in the United States, more than 1.07 million people transited through U.S. airports – the most of any single day since the start of the pandemic, according to the Transportation Security Administration.
Nearly 6 million Americans traveled by air from Friday to Wednesday, it said, a number that is however less than half that of the same period last year.
State governors have also urged Americans to stay home on Black Friday, a traditionally busy holiday shopping day, encouraging them instead to take advantage of online deals or curbside pick-ups.
‘Remember, skip the crowds and shop from home this Black Friday. Our local shops have curbside pickup options and need our support,’ Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear wrote in a tweet on Friday.
National Retail Federation CEO Matthew Shay on Friday said his lobbying group forecast a record high in holiday spending this year, even with many Americans struggling financially as the pandemic as hit the economy and jobs.
‘Consumers are out there,’ he told Fox Business Network in an interview. He said people had shifted spending from travel, entertainment and other experience-based consumption to home and other material goods.
In an effort to mitigate the winter COVID-19 wave, more than 20 states have issued new restrictions, including mask mandates and limiting capacity of bars, restaurants and houses of worship.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled against New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s restrictions on religious gatherings on Wednesday, voting 5-4 late in favor of requests by a Roman Catholic Diocese and two Orthodox Jewish congregations for an injunction to block the capacity restrictions from being enforced.
Cuomo dismissed the ruling as ‘irrelevant,’ saying it related to houses of worship in specific areas that were no longer considered at high risk. However, the ruling could have broader implications for houses of worship appealing capacity restrictions elsewhere.
Earlier this week, Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser said the latest COVID-19 restrictions on gatherings in the nation’s capital also applied to indoor religious services, reducing capacity from 100 people to 50 people, with a maximum 50%.
It was not immediately clear if the curbs would be challenged following the Supreme Court ruling.
The resolutions to reopen some wellness centers were taken yesterday during a cabinet meeting chaired by President Paul at Urugwiro Village.
The bi-weekly meeting reviewed measures to contain spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. All existing measures and guidelines shall remain in force (including prohibition of movement from 10 PM – 4 AM) with the exception of some changes with immediate effect.
“Gyms and swimming pools shall resume operations upon assessment of compliance with COVID – 19 preventive measures. The relevant institutions will provide detailed guidelines. Live performances and cultural shows will resume gradually upon fulfillment of COVID – 19 preventive measures. The concerned institutions will provide detailed guidelines,” reads in part the statement.
Like other wellness facilities and a number of activities, the functioning of gyms was suspended on 15th March 2020 one day after confirming the first COVID-19 case in Rwanda.
On 8th June 2020, the Ministry of Sports gradually allowed different sporting activities to resume staring with cycling, Tennis, Gold, Hiking and other physical exercises respecting social distancing.
Other sports were allowed to resume on 13th July 2020. These include Cricket, Boxing, Karate, Kung Fu, Taekwondo, Judo, Skating, Kumasha, Badminton, Aerobic, Gymnastics in open air and adhering to COVID-19 health guidelines.
Concerts were also suspended on 8th March 2020 thus artists opted for online concerts to entertain fans.
Rwanda reports 5872 COVID-19 cases and 5872 recoveries since the first case was confirmed. 428 are active cases while 47 succumbed to the pandemic.
COVID-19 measures will be reviewed after 15 days upon a health assessment.
Citizens are reminded of the critical importance of complying with health measures including physical distancing, wearing face masks and hand hygiene.
