IGIHE

Author: Théophile Niyitegeka

  • Late DRC opposition leader’s son named as successor

    {The Democratic Republic of Congo’s opposition coalition has reportedly named the son of its late leader Etienne Tshisekedi to succeed him. }

    According to BBC, Felix Tshisekedi was chosen to replace his late father by nine opposition groupings which are challenging President Joseph Kabila.

    Felix’s appointment was announced despite objections by at least two groups in the alliance.

    This came as the opposition alliance was said to be preparing to bring back Tshisekedi’s body, several weeks after his death.

    Reports indicated that the 84-year-old Tshisekedi, head of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS), died in Brussels on February 1, eight days after leaving the DRC for medical care.

    His death plunged the vast central African country further into uncertainty, as he played a key role in negotiations aimed at peacefully resolving the political crisis.

    Tshisekedi had led the alliance in last December’s negotiations over the future of the DRC presidency.

    Under the deal which was agreed on, President Kabila who had refused to step down after his December mandate expired will step down after an election to be organised this year.

    Source:News 24

  • National Youth Council calls for mass protest against UN report on Burundi

    {The Burundi National Youth Council is calling on all young Burundians to participate in a mass demonstration to be held on 4 March throughout the country. The objective is to protest against the recent report released by the United Nations Secretary General (UNSG) on Burundi.}

    “The report says that Burundians continue to flee the country while we live in peace. This report is biased,” Elaste Nzitonda, the chairman of the Burundi National Youth Council, tells Iwacu.

    He calls on all young Burundians to come to protest against the UN report throughout the country.

    Nzitonda says that it will be an opportunity to protest against impunity in Burundi.

    “Wanted people in Burundi should be extradited and be tried, especially the alleged coup plotters,” Nzitonda says. He also asks for the constitution of Burundi to be amended. He says that the Burundi Constitution needs to be updated according to the current conditions of the country.

    UN concerned about human rights deteriorating in Burundi

    On 23 February, the UNSG Antonio Guterres released a report on Burundi. The report reveals that human rights violations continue to deteriorate in the country, while the government has decided to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), to suspend its cooperation and collaboration with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and not to cooperate with the Commission of Inquiry mandated by the Human Rights Council.

    Guterres said he is concerned with the report issued in August 2016, where the National Commission for Inter-Burundian Dialogue (CNDI) envisaged canceling the presidential term limits which would violate the Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Agreement.

    Patrick Nkurunziza, chairman of the youth league of an opposition party, Frodebu, says that Frodebu members are not concerned by this demonstration organized by the national council. “We are not invited. Besides, we do not recognize this national youthcouncil because it is largely made of the youth members of the ruling party, CNDD-FDD. They work for the government, «he says.

    The report reveals that 387,000 Burundians have fled the country since the current crisis erupted in April 2015. The UNHCR estimates that Burundi refugees will reach 500,000 by the end of 2017.

    Protesters before UN place in Bujumbura.

    Source:Iwacu

  • Over 120,000 heart patients in Rwanda don’t seek treatment

    {Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC) has expressed concern over the growing number of patients suffering from heart diseases but never seek medical assistance before the disease is aggravated.}

    RBC echoed this yesterday during the discussions on policies to support patients of non-communicable diseases and heart patients where research carried out in 2016 demonstrated that most of the patients diagnosed with heart disease never seek treatment.

    Dr Evariste Ntaganda, the head of heart disease division at the Rwanda Biomedical Centre said “We should be taking care of 135, 025 heart patients but we only assist 5,238 because others don’t come for medical help.”

    He explained that having only 5238 seeking medical assistance is a big challenge.

    Dr Ntaganda said that only 15 % of patients diagnosed with hypertension seek medical assistance despite the fact that Rwanda brings specialized foreign doctors treating heart diseases.

    He pointed a recent case where Rwanda received 40 specialized doctors at King Faisal Hospital over the past two weeks who treated only 83, below the target of at least 149 heart patients.

    Dr.Ntaganda appealed to patients to seek treatment earlier because it requires surgery when treatment is sought late after the condition has worsened.

    Dr Marie-Aimée Muhimpundu, the head of the Non Communicable Diseases Division at RBC encouraged people to get diagnosed of such diseases and seek treatment earlier adding that they are doing everything possible to make health care facilities of such diseases at health centers.

    She explained that such diseases are insured under Mutuelle de santé.

    Dr. Muhimpundu appealed on people to do sports, reduce alcohol consumption, eat balanced diet and avoid smoking.

    She explained that a special center treating and offering surgery with specialized doctors of heart diseases will be built in Masaka of Kicukiro district.

    Dr Marie-Aimée Muhimpundu, the head of the Non Communicable Diseases Division at RBC.

  • RSE Rings the bell for Gender Equality

    {As part of the activities to mark the upcoming International Women’s Day 2017, the Rwanda Stock Exchange (RSE) yesterday joined over 40 other exchanges across the globe in ringing the bell to commence trading for Gender Equality.}

    Held under the theme, ‘Be bold for change’ at the Kigali Serena Hotel, was graced by the Rwanda Development Board Chief Executive Officer, Hon. Clare Akamanzi, who rang the bell to commence the day’s trading accompanied by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) Country Representative, IgnaceMihigo, Mrs. FatouAminata Lo, the UN Women Deputy Representative, StefanusHandoyo, from the IFC EAC Corporate Governance Program, Dr. Monique Nsanzabaganwa, the National Bank of Rwanda (BNR) Deputy Governor, Dr. James Ndahiro the Chairman of the RSE and the CEO of the exchange Pierre Celestin Rwabukumba, among other high ranking officials from the private sector.

    In addition to the 40 global exchanges, the RSE joined the UN Global Compact, Sustainable Stock Exchanges initiative (SSE), World Federation of Exchanges and Women in ETFs in raising awareness about the importance of gender equality to both business and sustainable development.

    Rwabukumba said the aim was to have exchanges across the globe ring their market opening or closing bell to draw attention to the critical role businesses and markets can play in closing the gender inequality gap.

    “Through the SSE initiative that we joined in 2015, we are part of the attainment of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) among which include promoting gender equality. As stock exchanges, we are encouraged to promote gender diversity on the boards and management of listed companies and to ensure accessibility of capital market services to female entrepreneurs to mention but a few,” he remarked.
    It is a fact that closing gender gaps in labor markets and within the other areas reduces poverty, improves the education of children and drives agricultural production and economic growth at the global arena.

    A recent report by McKinsey Global Institute concluded that as much as US$ 28 trillion or 26 per cent could be added to the global GDP in 2025 if women participated in the labor force at the same rate as men.

    Mihigo noted that there was still much that needs to be done as regards women empowerment and untapped opportunities for women.

    Ms. Aminata, added that gender inequality poses a critical economic challenge.

    “There is strong evidence showing that women earn less, have fewer assets and are largely concentrated in vulnerable and low-paying activities. Globally, the gap between women and men’s labor force participation is 26 per cent; women on average are paid 24 per cent less than men,” she pointed out.

    “In developing countries, 75 per cent of women’s employment is informal and unprotected.”

    She said that adjustments must happen on all sides if the globe is to increase the number of people able to engage in decent work, to keep the pool inclusive and to realize the benefits that will come to all from the equal world envisaged in the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

    Presiding over the event, Ms. Akamanzi challenged the private and public sectors need to continuously check and assess themselves in what they have done in reducing the gap, especially in the business sector.
    “We need to know how we are doing in terms of data. According to the Peterson Institute, if you have 30 per cent of women in senior leadership positions in a company you expect to get around six per cent net profit which is very possible,” she explained.

    Hondayo closed by saying that companies with women on board have better profitability, governance and risk management among other advantages.

    Hon. Akamanzi (center) rings the bell signifying start of trading yesterday as the RSE embarked on promoting gender equality.

  • Rainstorms destroy 100 houses

    {The Ministry of Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs (MIDIMAR) has said that yesterday’s rainstorms destroyed 107 houses, 2 classrooms and ravaged crops on 34 hectares in Rubavu, Nyabihu, Karongi and Kirehe districts, the Director of Disaster Response and Recovery at MIDIMAR, Mr. Philippe Habinshuti has said.}

    He explained that the rainstorms ravaged crops on 34 hectares where floods hit Kirehe district while lightening killed livestock in Karongi district.

    “There are provisional reports because it kept raining after gathering the information. We are conducting more evaluation today,” he said.

    “We have started analysis of destroyed properties and providing basic support to affected residents,” he added.

    He comforted affected residents saying they are availing emergence support in not more than 24 hours.

    Similar disasters have devastated Nyarugenge district in Jnaury 2017 where 742 houses and 4 clasrooms at Kabusunzu school were ravaged.

    More 72 houses were destroyed in Kicukiro district,29 in Kamonyi while rainstorms destroyed 2 classrooms and 3 residential houses in Kirehe district in February 2017.

    Rainstorms have destroyed 100 houses.

  • Mutuelle de santé expenditures surpass contributions

    {The Director General of Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB),Gatera Jonathan has said that the cost of medical services exceeds contributions under Mutuelle de santé and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning has been filling the financing gaps as they await revision of the contributions. }

    He has noted this today in a press conference with various leaders following the 14th National Leadership Retreat concluded yesterday in Gabiro combat training center.

    Gatera, in a press briefing, explained that during the 14th National Leadership Retreat they discussed service delivery in Mutuelle de santé where the majority of Rwandans are subscribed and discussed how to make it a sustainable program.

    “The discussion about Mutuelle de santé hinged on what can be done to deliver good services. Our discussions came out with the concept that the cost of health service delivery doesn’t match paid contributions based on current situation. However, we took no decision on the amount which should be increased,” he said.

    “What we discussed is bridging the financing gap and has been decided that the MINECOFIN will support Mutuelle de santé fund to fill the gap as awaiting further action,” he added.

    Gatera explained that they also discussed how to improve health care services delivery.

    “We also talked about promoting health care service delivery. This has to be reflected in quick service delivery especially for Mutuelle de santé users because they would not be treated as members of RAMA in most cases,” he said.

    The Director General of Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB),Gatera Jonathan.

  • MINIJUST disputes research results

    {The Ministry of Justice (MINIJUST) has questioned recent research results of Legal Aid Forum (LAF) which indicated that 61.5% of Rwandans are not satisfied with how community mediators resolve conflicts. }

    Odette Yankurije, the head of Access to Justice Department at MINIJUST has told IGIHE that they dispute the research results because they don’t reflect what other institutions established in their research.

    “We don’t accept the research outcomes because reports from Rwanda Governance Board indicate that the body of community mediators is elected by citizens and satisfied with its activities beyond 75%. We don’t know what their research based on but we will sit with them to receive explanations on where these statistics came from and the sample size,” she said.

    Yankurije explained that USAID research in 2012 had also indicated that citizens are satisfied beyond 75% on the performance of community mediators.

    Commenting on reports of LAF that community mediators are corrupt,Yankurije said that only 10 of 1800 mediators were held identified in corruption cases and dismissed immediately.

    The research presented on Thursday was carried out in 30 districts countrywide taking the sample of 5 503 from each district.

    The research assessed citizens’ access to fair justice, justice services decentralization, awareness on existence of judicial assistance and its reach.

    It also analyzed how conflicts are resolved by courts and community mediators, execution of court judgments and citizens’ awareness of their rights.

    Odette Yankurije, the head of Access to Justice Department at MINIJUST.

  • Painkillers without dangerous side effects

    {Researchers from Charité — Universitätsmedizin Berlin have discovered a new way of developing painkillers. The team of researchers used computational simulation to analyze interactions at opioid receptors — the cell’s docking sites for painkillers. }

    When used in an animal model, their prototype of a morphine-like molecule was able to produce substantial pain relief in inflamed tissues. However, healthy tissues remained unaffected, suggesting that the severe side effects currently associated with these types of painkillers might be avoided. This research has been published in the current issue of the journal Science.

    Opioids are a class of strong pain killers. They are mainly used to treat pain associated with tissue damage and inflammation, such as that caused by surgery, nerve damage, arthritis or cancer. Common side effects associated with their use include drowsiness, nausea, constipation and dependency and, in some cases, respiratory arrest. “By analyzing drug-opioid receptor interactions in damaged tissues, as opposed to healthy tissues, we were hoping to provide useful information for the design of new painkillers without harmful side effects,” explains Prof. Dr. Christoph Stein, Head of the Department of Anesthesiology and Surgical Critical Care Medicine on Campus Benjamin Franklin. In cooperation with PD Dr. Marcus Weber from the Zuse Institute Berlin, and with the help of innovative computational simulations, the researchers were able to analyze morphine-like molecules and their interactions with opioid receptors. They were able to successfully identify a new mechanism of action, which is capable of producing pain relief only in the desired target tissues — those affected by inflammation.

    Treating postoperative and chronic inflammatory pain should now be possible without causing side effects. Doing so would substantially improve patient quality of life. The study’s first authors, Dr. Viola Spahn and Dr. Giovanna Del Vecchio, explain: “In contrast to conventional opioids, our NFEPP-prototype appears to only bind to, and activate, opioid receptors in an acidic environment. This means it produces pain relief only in injured tissues, and without causing respiratory depression, drowsiness, the risk of dependency, or constipation.” After designing and synthesizing the drug prototype, the researchers subjected it to experimental testing. Using computer modeling, the researchers simulated an increased concentration of protons, thereby mimicking the acidic conditions found in inflamed tissues. “We were able to show that the protonation of drugs is a key requirement for the activation of opioid receptors,” conclude the authors.

    Their findings, which may also apply to other types of pain, may even find application in other areas of receptor research. Thereby, the benefits of improved drug efficacy and tolerability are not limited to painkillers, but may include other drugs as well.

    Treating postoperative and chronic inflammatory pain should now be possible without causing side effects. Doing so would substantially improve patient quality of life.

    Source:Science Daily

  • Ngororero: SACCO accountant held over embezzlement

    {An accountant at a credit and saving cooperative (SACCO) branch in Muhororo Sector of Ngororero District had been arrested for allegedly embezzling over Rwf2.7 million from the coffers.}

    Jacqueline Mbonyizanye currently detained at Ngororero Police station, was arrested on Thursday following an audit carried out at the SACCO branch by its internal auditor.

    “The audit found out that Mbonyizanye had actually received Rwf2, 787, 000, which she could, however, not explain circumstances under which it went missing from the coffers. As the prime suspect, he was immediately arrested as investigations are still underway,” Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Theobald Kanamugire, Police spokesperson for the Western Province, said.

    The internal audit precedes another one that will be conducted by Rwanda Cooperative Agency (RCA).

    “We call upon anyone with information that would supplement these investigations, or any other act related to corruption or embezzlement, to come forward and support efforts against such malpractices,” he said.

    Under article 325 of the Rwandan penal code, any employee, who embezzles public or private property, funds, negotiable instruments, documents, or movable property which are entrusted to him or her, by virtue of his or her office; shall be liable to a term of imprisonment of seven to ten years and a fine of two to five times the value of the embezzled or destroyed property.

    Source:Police

  • Sex differences in brain activity alter pain therapies

    {A female brain’s resident immune cells are more active in regions involved in pain processing relative to males, according to a recent study by Georgia State University researchers.}

    The study, published in the Journal of Neuroscience, found that when microglia, the brain’s resident immune cells, were blocked, female response to opioid pain medication improved and matched the levels of pain relief normally seen in males.

    Women suffer from a higher incidence of chronic and inflammatory pain conditions such as fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis. While morphine continues to be one of the primary drugs used for the treatment of severe or chronic pain, it is often less effective in females.

    “Indeed, both clinical and preclinical studies report that females require almost twice as much morphine as males to produce comparable pain relief,” said Hillary Doyle, graduate student in the Murphy Laboratory in the Neuroscience Institute of Georgia State. “Our research team examined a potential explanation for this phenomenon, the sex differences in brain microglia.”

    In healthy individuals, microglia survey the brain, looking for signs of infection or pathogens. In the absence of pain, morphine interferes with normal body function and is viewed as a pathogen, activating the brain’s innate immune cells and causing the release of inflammatory chemicals such as cytokines.

    To test how this sex difference affects morphine analgesia, Doyle gave male and female rats a drug that inhibits microglia activation.

    “The results of the study have important implications for the treatment of pain, and suggests that microglia may be an important drug target to improve opioid pain relief in women,” said Dr. Anne Murphy, co-author on the study and associate professor in the Neuroscience Institute at Georgia State.

    The research team’s finding that microglia are more active in brain regions involved in pain processing may contribute to why the incidence rates for various chronic pain syndromes are significantly higher in females than males.

    Source:Science Daily