Category: Health

Barone, who now practices at New Health Therapy Centre in Kigali, says the country’s safety, welcoming people and favorable climate convinced him to settle in Rwanda after years of working abroad.

“I spent many years in a very dangerous country, and I was looking around for a very safe place,” he said. “I’ve never been here before, and I think I found a little paradise here. It’s very safe, people are very kind, and the weather is nice.”

Having previously worked in countries including Mexico, Guatemala and Colombia, Barone established his practice in Rwanda last year. After initially operating in Kimihurura, he later relocated to Kacyiru, where he now provides osteopathy, chiropractic care and other natural therapies.

According to Barone, his interest in alternative forms of treatment began with a personal health challenge.

“I started with this because I had a problem myself. Conventional medicine did not find a solution,” he explained. “When I was young, I tried chiropractic treatment for the first time, and it helped me. So I came to trust that kind of medicine, natural medicine.”

At the centre, Barone focuses on helping patients improve spinal alignment, posture and overall wellbeing. He explained that chiropractic treatment is based on the belief that proper spinal alignment supports the healthy functioning of the nervous system.

“The body is smart and it can heal itself,” he said. “We are helping people put the spinal column back in the right position.”

Beyond treatment, he also emphasizes prevention by teaching patients proper posture, sleeping positions and healthy exercise habits.

“People don’t know how to sit properly, especially when spending a long time seated in an office. The same applies to students in school and university,” he noted.

Barone describes the therapies offered at the centre as natural and non-invasive, arguing that they work with the body’s healing processes.

“All are natural therapies. They are not invasive,” he said. “We provide chiropractic, osteopathy and other natural treatments. These help the body heal itself.”

He also encouraged people to be cautious about relying excessively on painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs.

“Sometimes they can lead to dependency, making the problem worse and worse,” he said. “People should become more comfortable with natural therapies such as chiropractic treatment and try them one time.”

Looking to the future, Barone says he hopes to continue building his practice in Rwanda and expand its services to reach more patients.

“I would like to stay here, maybe forever,” he said. “I would like to grow into a bigger place and continue improving for the benefit of patients. I want to grow together with them.”

In a statement issued on June 16, 2026, the ministry said that health authorities remain vigilant and are strengthening preventive measures following the declaration of an Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo strain in Ituri Province, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), about a month ago.

“There are currently no cases in Rwanda and no active cases in areas bordering Rwanda. While the risk is low, Rwanda remains vigilant and continues to strengthen surveillance and preparedness,” the statement read.

Minister of Health Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana also reaffirmed that surveillance efforts will continue to ensure timely response and prevention.

“No Ebola cases in Rwanda or neighboring areas. The risk of transmission to Rwanda is low. With the epicenter still active, vigilance remains as usual,” he said.

The announcement comes at a time when a patient previously identified in Goma has recovered, and all 255 people who had contact with the case tested negative for the virus.

In Bukavu, another affected city, one person died from the disease, while around 200 suspected cases were placed under quarantine. No further infections were confirmed among them.

In Uganda, Ebola has also been detected in Kampala. According to the Ugandan Ministry of Health on June 9, 2026, 19 cases were confirmed in the capital, including 12 patients still in hospital, five recoveries, and two deaths.

Ebola is a highly contagious viral disease transmitted through contact with infected bodily fluids such as blood, sweat, saliva, urine, vomit, and other secretions.

The first fatality in the current outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain was recorded in Bunia, Ituri Province, on April 24, 2026, although the death was confirmed to have been caused by Ebola six weeks later.

As of June 16, the DRC had recorded 837 confirmed Ebola cases,including 196 deaths including 192 deaths, as health authorities and international partners warned that the outbreak continues to deteriorate with sustained community transmission and geographic expansion.

According to the Ministry of Health, heart disease was previously the second-leading reason Rwandan patients were sent overseas for treatment. However, investments in specialist training and healthcare infrastructure have enabled the country to provide advanced cardiac care domestically.

State Minister for Health Dr. Yvan Butera said Rwanda has made substantial progress in cardiac treatment compared with its position four years ago.

“Four years ago, heart disease was the second-largest reason for referring patients abroad,” Butera told Rwanda Broadcasting Agency (RBA). “Since launching this program, we have treated 1,100 patients here in Rwanda.”

The achievement is part of broader efforts to strengthen Rwanda’s healthcare system and position the country as a regional medical hub. Authorities have invested in medical infrastructure and specialist training to improve access to high-quality healthcare services.

As part of these efforts, Rwanda has sent doctors to Israel for specialised training in cardiac surgery. The Ministry of Health said some physicians are still undergoing training and are expected to contribute to cardiac care services in Rwanda and the wider region upon their return.

Butera said the program has enabled the treatment of both children and adults with complex heart conditions that previously required referral abroad.

“We are not only treating patients but also training Rwandan professionals to ensure these services are sustainable in the long term,” he said.

Cardiac care requires multidisciplinary teams that include diagnostic specialists, surgeons, anesthesiologists, intensive care physicians, and other healthcare professionals. While such services demand significant resources, Butera said Rwanda has steadily built the capacity needed to deliver them.

The growing expertise has also begun attracting patients from neighbouring countries and beyond.

“We are increasingly seeing people from across the region and even farther afield coming to Rwanda for treatment, which is a positive development,” he said.

The progress comes amid broader government efforts to expand access to healthcare nationwide. Rwanda currently has more than 520 health centers, 57 hospitals, and 1,280 health posts distributed across the country.

The government has also launched the 4×4 program, an initiative aimed at quadrupling the number of doctors in Rwanda by 2028. The program seeks to achieve a ratio of four doctors for every 1,000 residents and is expected to attract investments exceeding $395 million.