Reports say that Dr. Kampale, a Congolese national, was found dead in his apartment on March 28th,2020.
Dr. Theobald Hategekimana, CHUK Director General said Kampale was found dead on Saturday.
Marie Michelle Umuhoza, RIB Spokesperson confirmed the death of Dr. Kampale but said that further investigations are underway to establish what caused his death.
Dr. Kampale was a specialist in Anesthesiology.
Rwandans who were violently beaten and tortured by Uganda’s Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) are currently being treated at Byumba hospital in the Northern Province.
On March 22nd, 2020, Uganda confirmed its first case of coronavirus. He is a 36-year-old Ugandan who arrived in Uganda from Dubai. Currently, Uganda reports 33 cases of coronavirus. While patient zero was a Ugandan, the country continues to blame Rwandans for spreading the virus.
Nambajimana Emmanuel and Nshimyumukiza Michael who were tortured in Uganda and are currently receiving medical care at Byumba hospital arrived in Rwanda on March 29th after they were dumped at the border by the CMI.
They had been selling honey for two years in Jinja, Eastern Uganda.
Nambajimana said that after the outbreak of coronavirus, trade activities stopped and they decided to come back home “Our vehicle was intercepted midway by the CMI and they started accusing us of having been sent by the government of Rwanda to spread coronavirus.”
He confirmed he was beaten beyond imagination and injured. “We explained that we had been doing business in Uganda for 2 years and that we haven’t recently been to Rwanda but they wouldn’t listen to us.”
Nambajimana said that although they only said they were bringing them to the border, they instead brought them at the CMI headquarters and started torturing them. “After they dumped us at the border, herdsmen on the side of Rwanda saw us and brought us to hospital.”
Nshimyumukiza Michael who was also severely tortured is receiving medical care at Byumba hospital. He said that after he was tortured, the CMI stole 2 million shillings he had on him as well as other belongings.
Last week, 342 other Rwandans were dumped at the borders in Burera and Gicumbi in thr Northern Province. They were also accused of having been sent to spread coronavirus.
The CMI has reportedly started hunting down Rwandans on allegations of spreading the virus when no tests were conducted whatsoever.
Rwandans who were dumped on borders are predominantly merchants who conducted business in Kisoro, Gahenerezo close to Burera in North Rwanda. They arrived in Rwanda on Sunday, March 29th, 2020 and have been quarantined for 14 days as the ministry of health directives dictate.
Gatabazi JMV, Northern Province Governor said that Rwandans were accused of spreading coronavirus in Uganda since patient zero was identified on March 14th, 2020. It is reported that Uganda’s military strictly forbids Rwandans from crossing over to Uganda ever since.
“They used the virus as a motive to chase Rwandans starting from those who lived in Kabale and Kisoro.”
Among the 342 people who were dumped on borders are a Congolese citizen and 2 Ugandans who were mistaken for being Rwandans. They are also quarantined along with Rwandan citizens. They are assisted daily with essential needs while the quarantine lasts.
We know the human toll will be high, and that massive efforts to turn the tide carry a heavy economic cost.
To reduce the risk of an even greater toll – shortage of food for millions, even in affluent countries – the world must take immediate actions to minimize disruptions to food supply chains.
A globally coordinated and coherent response is needed to prevent this public health crisis from triggering a food crisis in which people cannot find or afford food.
For now, COVID-19 has not entailed any strain on food security, despite anecdotal reports of crowded supermarket sieges.
While there’s no need for panic – there is enough supply of food in the world to feed everyone – we must face the challenge: an enormous risk that food may not be made available where it is needed.
The COVID-19 outbreak, with all the accompanying closures and lockdowns, has created logistical bottlenecks that ricochet across the long value chains of the modern global economy.
Restrictions of movement, as well as basic aversion behavior by workers, may impede farmers from farming and food processors (who handle most agricultural products) from processing. Shortage of fertilizers, veterinary medicines, and other input could also affect agricultural production.
Closures of restaurants and less frequent grocery shopping diminish demand for fresh produce and fisheries products, affecting producers and suppliers, especially smallholder farmers, with long-term consequences for the world’s increasingly urbanized population, be they in Manhattan or Manila.
Uncertainty about food availability can induce policymakers to implement trade restrictive measures in order to safeguard national food security.
Given the experience of the 2007-2008 global food price crisis, we know that such measures can only exacerbate the situation.
Export restrictions put in place by exporting countries to increase food availability domestically could lead to serious disruptions in the world food market, resulting in price spikes and increased price volatility.
In 2007-2008, these immediate measures proved extremely damaging, especially for low income food-deficit countries and to the efforts of humanitarian organizations to procure supplies for the needy and vulnerable.
We should all learn from our recent past and not make the same mistakes twice.
Policymakers must take care to avoid accidentally tightening food-supply conditions.
While every country faces its own challenges, collaboration – between governments and the full gamut of sectors and stakeholders – is paramount. We are experiencing a global problem that requires a global response.
We must ensure that food markets are functioning properly and that information on prices, production, consumption and stocks of food is available to all in real time. This approach will reduce uncertainty and allow producers, consumers, traders and processors to make informed decisions and to contain unwarranted panic behavior in global food markets.
The health impacts of the unfolding COVID-19 pandemic on some of the poorest countries are still unknown. Yet, we can say with certainty that any ensuing food crisis as a result of poor policy-making will be a humanitarian disaster that we can avert.
We already have 113 million people experiencing acute hunger; in sub-Saharan Africa, a quarter of the population is undernourished. Any disruptions to food supply chains will intensify both human suffering and the challenge of reducing hunger around the world.
We must do everything possible to not let that happen. Prevention costs less. Global markets are critical for smoothening supply and demand shocks across countries and regions, and we need to work together to ensure that disruptions of food supply chains are minimized as much as possible.
COVID-19 forcefully reminds us that solidarity is not charity, but common sense.
{{QU Dongyu
Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)}}
On March 21st, 2020, the government of Rwanda implemented new preventive measures including a 14-day renewable mandatory quarantine, a complete air travel ban, and closing borders among others.
Prime Minister Dr. Edouard Ngirente said that more measures will be implemented to curb further spread of coronavirus.
Since the first patient was identified on March 14th, 2020, the number of coronavirus patients in Rwanda has increased to 70.
Before the outbreak of coronavirus, Rwanda and DRC merchants strived on cross-border trade. At least between 40,000 and 45,000 people cross over from Rwanda to DRC and back for trade purposes via Petite Barriere Border Post in Rubavu District.
The Ministry of trade and industry recently announced that cross-border trade between Rwanda and DRC generated $120 million in 2018.
However, to avoid further spread of coronavirus, trade between the two countries has temporarily been suspended and only cargo will be allowed into the country.
Local government administration in the Western Province stated merchants are concerned they will incur loss during the lockdown and requested to be allowed to resume their activities.
Laurent Nsengiyumva, Advisor to the Western Province Mayor told IGIHE that when new preventive measures were implemented, merchants were reluctant but after penalties were imposed, they have started abiding by the rules. Until now, 639 people have received fines for failing to respect preventive measures imposed to curb the spread of coronavirus.
Uwambajemariya Florence, Western Province Executive Secretary said that the district has started distributing food in Rubavu and Rusizi to counter the negative effects of the lockdown. Essential food such as maize flour, beans, cooking oil, rice, salt, and sugar and soap have already been distributed in many sectors of the country.
In cases where pneumonia inhibits breathing, supplemental oxygen therapy is recommended. Treatment includes ventilation with oxygen.
LEAF Pharmaceuticals will be manufacturing drugs to reduce inflammation and help open airways during respiratory disease instead of using Intensive Care Unit (ICU) ventilators as usual.
Reports from the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) show that due to the increasing number of coronavirus patients, ICU ventilators have become expensive with their prices increasing from $27,000 to $96,000.
Dr. Clet Niyikiza, Founder, President, and CEO of LEAF Pharmaceuticals told Rwanda Television (RTV) that the company is among 17 other pharmaceutical institutions in the United States which are conducting research to find a vaccine or cure for coronavirus.
Currently, the US counts more than 142,000 coronavirus patients while 2500 succumbed to the virus.
Last week, President Trump invoked a war-era Production Act forcing companies such as General Motors to make products for national defence. General Motors which usually is a car manufacturing company will start producing ventilators for coronavirus patients in the US and other parts of the world.
LEAF Pharmaceuticals and 16 other companies were allowed to manufacture drugs against coronavirus using Hydroxychloroquine and Azithromycin prototypes which are used to treat Malaria and viral diseases respectively.
Dr. Niyikiza said “Coronavirus causes respiratory infections in most of the cases and patients need supplementary oxygen to be able to breathe. We are manufacturing drugs to complement ICU ventilators and the first units will be available in the next three weeks.”
Currently, more than 100 drugs to treat coronavirus are being tested and Dr, Niyikiza says they are confident a cure will be identified by the end of the year.
Dr. Karangwa Charles, FDA Ag Director General told IGIHE that LEAF Pharmaceuticals has already requested for a permit to manufacture drugs for oxygen therapy.
“We are still in the negotiation process and intend to provide a permit to LEAF Pharmaceuticals after a thorough evaluation of their capacities and their expertise. Patients will be treated using Glucocorticoids to suppress inflammatory symptoms caused by the coronavirus.”
Currently, no cure for coronavirus has been identified. Symptoms include shortness of breath, fever, cough, and fatigue.
On March 21st, 2020, Prime Minister Ngirente stated that preventive measures needed reinforcement to prevent further spread of the virus. New measures include a 14-day renewable lockdown where citizens are mandated to stay home and practice social distancing.
In addition, a complete ban on air travel has been imposed and borders closed for 30 days.
Some citizens from Kayonza failed to respect preventive measures, opened shops and bars despite the government’s guidelines that only essential businesses should remain operational.
Murenzi Jean Claude, Kayonza district mayor told IGIHE that at least 120 people have been caught going against the government’s directives and that they have been punished for it.
“So far, 120 people in Kayonza received penalties for failure to practice social distancing and observing the ministry of health preventive measures. Most of them had opened shops and selling illicit brew.”
Currently, 54 people have tested positive for coronavirus in Rwanda. The ministry of health confirmed that at least 1200 people had close contact with infected patients while 900 among them have already been tested.
COVID-19 spreads through direct contact with the infected person, sneezing and coughing. To prevent the spread of the virus, regular hand washing with alcohol-based hand sanitizers or clean water and soap is advised, covering mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing and avoiding large gatherings.
In addition, it is important to avoid close contact with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness such as coughing and sneezing.
The donation is to support the Ministry of Health and health institutions during the response against COVID-19.
An announcement signed by Mutaganda Eric Herbez, ASSIMPER president, stated that health institutions will receive fuel cards to use at petrol stations. The announcement reads:
“During these critical times, ASSIMPER found it a necessity to assist health institutions as they run daily to the rescue of patients and to conduct sensitization activities.”
Akumuntu Joseph, ASSIMPER executive secretary told IGIHE that it is the responsibility of the private sector to assist the government as we strive to eradicate coronavirus.
“The virus has affected business in general but particularly for private institutions. It is our duty and a necessity to contribute to stopping it for business activities to resume.”
Of the 56,000 litres of fuel, Merez petroleum donated 5000 litres, Engen 5000 litres , Discentre 5000 litres and Mount Meru Petroleum 5000 litres.
Source Oil donated 5000 litres, Energy Solutions Ltd (Enes) 5000 litres, Gaz Oil 4000 litres, SP 10 000 litres , Hashi Energy 5000 litres, Black Star 3000 litres, Mogas 3000 litres and Kobil donated 1000 litres.
In a message posted on Twitter on March 28th, 2020, Shyaka said that food donations will be distributed in all villages under the coordination of sectors and district administrators. “We will visit every home with food donations and sectors administrations will assist us to identify which families cannot afford life necessities during this period.”
Disadvantaged families are usually offered support through Vision 2020 Umurenge Program (VUP), an integrated local development program to accelerate poverty eradication.
Shyaka said that people who wish to support poor families can reach out to their local leaders with their donations.
Currently, 54 people have tested positive with coronavirus in Rwanda. They are predominantly people with recent travel history.
On March 28th, 2020, President Kagame addressed the nation to address the coronavirus pandemic. He thanked Rwandans and especially medical staff for the support they have shown ever since coronavirus reached Rwanda.
President Kagame called upon Rwandans to keep observing directives from the ministry of health to prevent further spread and loss of lives. “Relevant institutions are working tirelessly to help the most vulnerable members of society.”
Nyamutera Innocent, Gitega sector executive secretary said that people who relied on daily income to support their families need help during the lockdown. Food donations have already reached some sectors and local administration will supervise how they are allocated. Donated food include beans, rice, maize flour, porridge flour, macaroni,
and soap.