Speaking to IGIHE, Mico The Best thanked Minister Ngamije for joining him in the anti-Tuberculosis campaign and delivering a message mobilizing Rwandans to prevent Tuberculosis and go for diagnosis.
“Minister Dr. Ngamije joined us in anti-Tuberculosis campaign and delivered a message to be conveyed during my concert featuring performances of Riderman,” he said.
World Tuberculosis Day is observed on 24th March each year with the aim of spreading public awareness about the global epidemic of Tuberculosis and efforts to eliminate the disease.
The theme of World Tuberculosis Day 2021 is ‘The Clock is Ticking’. The theme has been chosen as it ‘conveys the sense that the world is running out of time to act on the commitments to end TB made by global leaders’.
In his message, Minister Ngamije said that Rwanda expended much effort to take care of Tuberculosis patients amidst Covid-19.
He explained that workers from all health facilities have been equipped with modern equipment for the treatment of Tuberculosis.
Among others, the country has decentralized health services whereby patients receive drugs for free until they recover.
Rwanda has also reinforced the capacity of community health workers with a view to completely eradicate Tuberculosis by 2035.
On World Tuberculosis Day, Mico The Best staged a virtual concert featuring performance by renowned rapper Riderman.
Mico The Best joined awareness campaign against Tuberculosis (TB) since March last year.
Reonald Habinshuti, 45, was arrested red-handed producing the illicit brew at his home located in Karuhaya Village, Sovu Cell in Huye Sector.
He was arrested alongside five other people, who were found at his house drinking kanyanga.
The Police spokesperson for the Southern region, Superintendent of Police (SP)Theobald Kanamugire said Habinshuti, who is currently detained at Huye Police station, was arrested on a tip-off from local residents.
“Residents reported that Habinshuti was distilling kanyanga from his home and mainly supplying local bars. In the previous operations, he managed to flee with the help of the locals, who would tip him off on seeing the Police,” SP Kanamugire said.
This time, he said, Police responded immediately to a call from a resident and Habishuti was arrested red-handed producing kanyanga. He had already distilled 30 litres, which were impounded alongside other containers and raw materials he was using to distill the illicit gin as well five customers found there drinking,” he added.
He thanked the residents, who reported the criminal practice, for the community policing spirit and called for continued information sharing on dealers and producers of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
Under article 263 of the law determining offences and penalties in general in Rwanda, anyone convicted for dealing in “simple narcotic drugs” faces between seven and ten years in prison and a fine of between Rwf5 million and Rwf10 million.
The statement released last night shows that 131 people have caught the virus, 131 recovered, 2 are critically ill while 4906 were vaccinated yesterday bringing the total number to 348,629 since Rwanda began countrywide vaccination program on 5th March 2021.
Rwanda confirmed the first Coronavirus case on 14th March 2020. Since then, 21106 b people have been tested positive out of 1,098,629 sample tests of whom 19,441 have recovered, 1368 are active cases while 297 have succumbed to the virus.
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 urged to adhere to COVID-19 health guidelines, washing hands frequently using soaps and safe water, wearing face masks and respecting social distancing.
MINEDUC made the request on Tuesday 23rd March 2021, in context of celebrating the African Day of School Feeding during a ceremony that took place at Groupe Scolaire Kayanga located in Rutunga sector of Gasabo district, Kigali city.
The event was characterized by the construction of kitchen gardens and various types of fruits that will help the school to feed its 2158 students.
Gaspard Twagirayezu, the Minister of State for Primary and Secondary Education at MINEDUC said that the activity to plant fruit trees and building kitchen gardens at schools will capacitate schools to feed children at noon.
“We encourage all schools to seek own means to feed children with crops available in surroundings. We have today planted fruit trees and vegetables expected to boost the school’s capacity to feed students. The Ministry and partners will gradually strengthen the program to help schools become self-reliant,” he said.
Among others, Twagirayezu explained, fruit trees and vegetables will help nourish students with food rich in nutrients enhancing proper growth.
Kwizera Bosco, a first year student at GS Kayanga said these fruits and vegetables will be helpful to them in coming days.
“We are excited for the activity because planted vegetables and fruits will lessen schools burden as crops will be harvested from the surroundings,” he said.
The head teacher of GS Kayanga, Nahayo Clemence appreciated the Ministry for celebrating the African Day of School Feeding at the school noting that it will help parents to understand the relevance of school feeding program.
“The day helps us to convince parents on the relevance of school feeding program, thus, making them actively involved and deeply understanding that Government’s policies are instituted for common interests,” she said.
She explained that such program saves students time, and prevents susceptible risks from forth and backwards movements as they go home for lunch and return to school every noon. The Government of Rwanda introduced school feeding program in 2014 for students enrolled in 9 and 12 year basic education.
The Government used to allocate the budget of Rwf5.5 billion for the first four consecutive years which increased to Rwf 7 billion in 2019/2020 fiscal year.
Rwanda registered 97.3% students benefiting school feeding program in 2019.
The flour is provided to pregnant mothers and children whose families are classified in the first and second Ubudehe social class category in a bid to help them combat stunting.
The flour is distributed to beneficiaries by the Government of Rwanda on funding of the World Bank.
Shisha Kibondo is made available in two types packed in yellow and green plastic bags.
The flour in yellow plastic bags is donated to pregnant mothers from the first month until she gives birth. The mother continues the recommended dietary intake for the first six month of child growth.
After six months, the mother starts receiving the flour packed in green plastic bags made for children ranging from six to 23 months. Delivered monthly quantity increases overtime as the child grows.
IGIHE visited some of beneficiaries from Nyabihu district recently who witnessed how the flour helped them to give birth healthy children and improved mothers’ health as well.
Nzayituriki Béatrice from Gasizi village, Basumba cell of Bigogwe sector in Nyabihu district is a mother of two with third pregnancy.
She explained that there is a big difference between mothers with and without Shisha Kibondo.
“ A child drinking Shisha Kibondo grows with good health, balanced weight which increases gradually because he/ she gets enough nutrients. The child without the flour doesn’t grow properly and is often flexible to sickness,” she said.
Niyonsaba residing in Basumba cell explained that she started drinking Shisha Kibondo from the first month of pregnancy.
“The flour is highly rich in nutrients than others. I weighed 55 kilograms which have increased to 65. Moreover, its gives me assurance that my child will be healthy upon delivery because I have the flour and respect advises from community health workers,” she said.
Iradukunda Vestine, 24, had been reluctant to drink the flour’s porridge. Her mindests had not yet changed until she realized that her child was underweight while others drinking Shisha Kibondo were healthy.
“The child would weigh 9 kilograms that never increased. That is how I became adherent and saw changes few months after using Shisha Kibondo. My child currently weighs 12 kgs from 9 , thanks to community health workers for advises that convinced to use the flour,” she noted.
Bizimana Ange Patrice, a community health worker at Kora Health center revealed that every parent receiving Shisha Kibondo is taught how to utilize it.
“For instance a child aged 6 to 8 months has own porridge cup. From 9 to 11 months, the child also has specific cup. The same also applies to children from 12 to 23 months. A pregnant mother is recommended to use specific sizes of cups to consume adequate nutrients that also feed the fetus,” she said.
Every pregnant mother receives at least four packages of flour, the same for breast feeding mother. A mother with a child aged 4 to 8 months receives two packages of flour. Other mothers with children aged 9 to 11 months get four packages, while those with children from 12 to 23 months receive five packages.
The head of health unit in Nyabihu district, Dusenge Pierre explained that Shisha Kibondo came in handy noting that beneficiaries saw their health improved.
He highlighted that the use of fortified flour helped the district to reduce children stunting from 59% to 46, 2%.
“We increased mobilizations educating parents on feeding children with balanced diet. We partnered with community health workers to sensitize parents on using Shisha Kibondo. The number has extremely increased and target to continue reducing the aforementioned figures,” noted Dusenge.
Nyabihu counts over 6000 beneficiaries of Shisha Kibondo from the first and second Uudehe social class category.
Rwanda plans to cut stunting from the current 33% to 19% by 2024.
This year’s edition is the 28th since Global Finance launched annual awards for the World’s Best Banks.
Bank of Kigali is among honorees for the year 2021 from 35 African countries that were selected for outstanding contribution to economic recovery during this period when the world is faced with COVID-19 pandemic.
The recognition evidences the bank’s consistency to delivering world-class services to its customers.
“In line with our motto ‘Financially transforming lives’, this award is a testimony of our commitment to consistently provide the best financial services to our customers, despite the challenges brought by the pandemic, said Dr. Diane Karusisi, Bank of Kigali CEO.
According to a statement from Global Finance Magazine, the winners emerged from 150 countries and territories across Africa, Asia-Pacific, the Caribbean, Central America, Central & Eastern Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, North America and Western Europe.
Commenting on the development, Joseph D. Giarraputo, publisher and editorial director of Global Finance stressed that these banks are playing a key role in economic recovery around the world amidst COVID-19 pandemic.
“Our Best Bank awards highlight the leaders in restoring growth and mapping a way forward. This year’s evaluations are more important and valuable than at any point in their 28 year history, given the unprecedented economic conditions wrought by the global pandemic,” he said.
The overall Best Bank in the World will be announced in the summer and published in October, along with the Best Global Banks in more than a dozen key categories. The winners of this year’s awards are those banks that attended carefully to their customers’ needs in difficult markets and accomplished strong results while laying the foundations for future success.
All selections were made by the editors of Global Finance after extensive consultations with corporate financial executives, bankers and banking consultants, and analysts throughout the world. In selecting these top banks, Global Finance considered factors that ranged from the quantitative objective to the informed subjective.
Banks were invited to submit entries supporting their selection. Objective criteria considered included: growth in assets, profitability, geographic reach, strategic relationships, new business development and innovation in products. Subjective criteria included the opinions of equity analysts, credit rating analysts, banking consultants and others involved in the industry.
Global Finance regularly selects the top performers among banks and other providers of financial services. These awards have become a trusted standard of excellence for the global financial community.
As the trial resumed today, Rusesabagina was not among co-accused arraigned before the court.
During the previous trial, Paul Rusesabagina said that he won’t return to court citing zero expectation of fair trial because ‘his rights have not been respected’.
Rusesabagina who has been heard claiming that he was abducted appeared before the court requesting six months to review his dossiers. After consultations between judges, the court rejected Rusesabagina’s request saying that the trial should proceed as usual.
Following the court’s decision, Rusesabagina made his objection saying, he won’t return to court because his rights are not respected.
“I would like to tell the court and judges that my basic rights to present my objections and fair trial have not been respected. The court failed to respect that,” he said.
“As a result, I would like to tell the court that I don’t expect justice here. That is why I will not take part of this trial again,” added Rusesabagina.
Rusesabagina’s defense lawyer, Rudakemwa Félix also said he had nothing to add to what his client said.
“He is my employer. So I will respect his wishes,” he explained.
Denis Sassou Nguesso has been re-elected president of the Republic of the Congo with 88.57 percent of the vote, according to provisional results.
The 77-year-old has been in power for an accumulated 36 years, first taking the helm in 1979 and then again in 1997 after losing the country’s first multiparty elections in 1992.
His victory, announced on Tuesday by the interior minister citing figures from the electoral commission, was widely expected after a March 20 ballot boycotted by the main opposition.
The Pan-African Union for Social Democracy (UPADS) said in January it would not to field a candidate in Sunday’s vote, arguing the conditions were not conducive for holding elections and that it would only lead to more divisions in the country.
“Rights activists say there’s no freedom of speech and there was no chance of having any democratic process in the first place,” said Al Jazeera’s Malcolm Webb, reporting from the capital, Brazzaville.
The election was also overshadowed by the death – reportedly from COVID-19 – of Nguesso’s only main rival, Guy-Brice Parfait Kolelas, who secured 7.84 percent of the vote.
One of the losing candidates, Mathias Dzon, has said he plans to appeal to the Constitutional Court to cancel the official results, citing an article of the constitution “which provides for the cancellation of the ballot when a candidate dies or is unable to vote”.
However, the head of the national independent electoral commission said that the article in question does not apply this time.
“Kolelas died after the vote in Paris so Article 70 cannot be evoked in these conditions,” said Henri Bouka, who is also president of the Supreme Court in Congo.
After retaking power in 1997, following a brief civil war, Nguesso was elected in 2002 and then again in 2009, for what was to be his second and final seven-year term.
But in 2015, he pushed through constitutional reforms that removed the 70-year age limit that would have barred him from contesting polls the following year. The referendum also removed the two seven-year term limit and introduced three five-year terms.
Congo’s economy has been in crisis since 2014 when oil prices collapsed. That caused the country’s external debt, much of it owed to private oil traders such as commodities giant Glencore, to soar to more than 100 percent of gross domestic product.
The coronavirus pandemic and resulting drop in oil prices last year has made matters worse.
The economy contracted by more than 8 percent last year and is expected to grow by less than 1 percent this year.
The airline began its vaccination rollout programme earlier this month on 8th March 2021 targeting all staff and crew who received their first shot.
The statement released yesterday shows that non-airline staff at Kigali International Airport, the airline’s hub, have been vaccinated as well to ensure a safe and secure environment for all passengers.
The drive comes just after RwandAir announced it will be the first carrier in Africa to start trialing the IATA Travel Pass in April 2021 to enable the safe resumption of international travel.
Commenting on the development, Yvonne Manzi Makolo, CEO of RwandAir, said: “Rwanda’s rapid roll-out of the first consignment of vaccines to arrive in the country prioritized all frontline workers, including RwandAir’s staff and crew. The vaccination programme has been designed to ensure we provide a safe and secure environment for travellers, both in the air and on the ground.”
She explained that the airline has carefully considered every customer touchpoint at Kigali International Airport and on board its aircraft, ‘as the world resumes travelling in the post-Covid era’.
“We look forward to welcoming our customers back to RwandAir. As an airline, the health and safety of our customers and staff is our number one priority and we have been working hard to restore our customers’ confidence to fly,” said Makolo.
In addition to RwandAir staff and crew, the staff of other airlines operating at the Kigali International Airport also received their Covid-19 vaccinations at the same time.
Operating from Kigali, with its hub at the heart of Africa, RwandAir is one of the world’s fastest growing airlines and operates one of the youngest state-of-the-art fleets on the African continent.
With a reputation for delivering a premium service to all its customers, RwandAir operates 12 aircraft with an average age of just under six years. The airline currently offers services to 25 destinations across 21 countries throughout Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Asia
The trio arrested on Monday, March 22, is Obama Nzabonimana, Jean de Dieu Muhire and Noah Kwizera.
Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Hamdun Twizeyimana, the Police spokesperson for the Eastern region, said the three suspects had already stolen three solar batteries.
He added that residents first reported Muhire and Kwizera after they were spotted breaking into the house of one Jeannine Uwumubano, where they stole a solar battery.
“Following their arrest with the battery stolen from Uwumubano’s house, Muhire and Kwizera disclosed that they had already stolen three batteries from three different homes. Two other batteries, they disclosed, were stolen from the homes of Leonard Habimana and Samuel Ntamuhanga,” CIP Twizeyimana said.
The suspects narrated that they were breaking into houses through the window especially during the day when there is no one at home.
They further disclosed that they were selling the batteries to Obama Nzabonimana for Rwf10,000, each.
Nzabonimana was later arrested with two other batteries stolen from the homes of Habimana and Ntamuhanga.
The suspects were handed over to RIB at Mimuli station.
The theft led to power outage in the affected homes leading to use of candles.
The spokesperson advised the young people to “take hands out of pockets and work” rather than wasting their lives in criminal practices leading to their arrest and imprisonment.
Under article 166 of the law relating to offences and penalties in general, any person convicted for theft is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than one year and not more than two years and a fine of between Rwf1 million and Rwf2 million, a community service for a period of six months or only one of these penalties.
