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,
In an interview with RBA, Dr. Ngamije Daniel, Minister of Health said that anyone who has developed symptoms of coronavirus should reach out to medical service providers.
” We have adequate facilities, trained personnel, and equipment to treat coronavirus patients. Quarantine is not a prison and patients who have tested positive and were admitted in the hospital can still talk to their families. No one should hold back from reporting to a health care facility in case they develop COVID-19 symptoms.”
Ngamije said there are currently 6 facilities equipped enough to treat coronavirus patients including 2 wards allocated to patients who have tested positive for coronavirus and 4 other wards for patients who are waiting for their test results.
Medical care for coronavirus cases are free.
“Patients rooms are equipped with a double-sized bed, a bathroom, and a television set. We ensure they receive absolute comfort while they are being treated.”
Patients who report to health care facilities with coronavirus symptoms are admitted and given their own rooms and receive three meals a day. In case tests come out positive, they are moved to the 2 wards allocated to patients who tested positive.
When tests come out negative, patients are required to practice self-isolation for 14 days and medical care providers follow up on them constantly given the nature of the virus. Symptoms can appear between 2 and 10 days after contracting the virus, but it may be up to 24 days.
Ngamije confirmed that all treatments are provided for free and that mothers with young children are given separate rooms while the mother is being treated.
Rwanda is one of the few countries which don’t charge coronavirus patients for treatment. In other countries like Kenya, patients pay up to $1200 for treatment in quarantine.
The ministry of health stated that most patients who have been admitted range between 20 to 45 years. Only a few are above 60.
Ngamije stated that “All patients are in stable condition and some will be discharged from hospital starting next week.”
On March 26th, 2020, the Ministry of Health announced that 50 people have tested positive for coronavirus so far. Patients are predominantly people with recent travel history. At least 900 people who had close contact with infected patients have been tested.
The unpredictable consequences have, especially, put entire lives in a quagmire.
And what pains most is that this pathogen is now biting deep and bitterly because there was a ‘public health cover-up’ when it first showed up in Wuhan, China, December last year.
Can you imagine that local authorities in Wuhan kept information on coronavirus under tabs for fear that putting information out there would hurt the economy and social stability? Do you know it is that prolonged period of inaction that gave latency for the virus to make inroads. Don’t you think if there was no denial and information crackdown right from the start the situation would have been different.
To worsen the situation, politicians in Wuhan incessantly claimed that human-to-human transmission was not possible. That was the bomb.
Anyway, no amount of finger-pointing toward China about its lack of transparency early in the outbreak, or the time lost before Beijing finally alerted others about the nature of its epidemic—although both true—can change this harsh reality.
Here we are. In a lockdown. Our jobs have stalled, social transactions maimed and the core of our livelihoods threatened.
My friend Kamanzi, I am writing this letter from the dungeon of my home, trying to look at many blank pages of the bleak future. What if…just imagining, what if this virus persists for a year? What becomes of production? What becomes of services? What becomes of global incomes? What becomes of governments? What becomes of social order? What becomes of families? What becomes of friends? And what becomes of life?
Well, worries do not change a damn thing. So, before we get to that unknown, unpredictable future, I have decided to go frugal with all my expenses. In the opposite direction, I have gone extravagant with my love for all people in my life and mankind.
And, listen my friend, I beseech you too, to cut down on your expenses and extravagantly splash love to people in your life. Today I only spend on food and very little on fuel. I do walk, if the need is so critical, any distance in the range of 5km. I’ve cut my weekly data costs by 80 percent. And after mailing this letter, I will switch off data connection until late hours of the night when I will browse through the current affairs for about twenty minutes.
I am saving money from the left pocket to the right pocket; preparing for very hard times ahead. Being thrifty, observing minimum spending and being prudent in such times like this is not an option; it’s a must-practice.
We are faced with a cataclysm like one never before.
But we should not use this time for elegiac lamentation. Instead, we should do something useful in our lockdowns. Besides sparing time on my very blank schedule to write a letter of encouragement to you, I am now transforming my city-based home compound; transiting from flower to vegetable and fruits gardens. I was able to secure seedlings that I have already planted and nurturing.
Do you remember ‘AKarima k’igikoni’? I have established four of them in my small compound, fertilizing them with chicken dung. Watering them in the morning and evening. They are my new job; something to look to for accomplishment and gain satisfaction.
In the afternoons, I read vernacular novels to my children; all in the age-bracket of secondary school and university. They never got a chance to read those books by themselves. I find it interesting. They find joy in listening to my measured voice. Sometimes poetic. And they enjoy my mastery of the mother language. I count something good in these hard times.
Alright my dear Kamanzi, I have to let you do other things. I hope to hear from you soonest. I pray we get out of this, stronger and wiser. Cheers and carry on.
The Mayor of Gisagara District, Rutaburingoga Jérôme, on Thursday said they will not relent in implementing all the guidelines issued by the government to ensure that coronavirus spread is squarely tamed and those that disobey the control measure shall continue to face off with the law.
“Nineteen have been arrested and sixty arrested for abusing the guidelines. We start by talking to them and urging them to comply but when they overdo it they are punished.”
He said that in general, many people are observing the regulations including staying at home, avoiding handshakes, closing shops and factories and letting food vendors to continue serving the public. , promoting hygiene and more.
Ruraburingoga said the culpable individuals opened shops, sold forbidden products, going to raised prices and bar hoppers.
The G20 leaders meeting today cannot afford to ignore calls for a debt moratorium for African countries in order to save lives now and give a lifeline to the many Africans whose livelihoods have been disrupted by the pandemic.
Speaking today ahead of the virtual Summit, Peter Kamalingin, Oxfam Pan Africa Director said: “This is the moment that Africa needs to use all its existing resources to cope with the emergency. It makes no sense for African countries to transfer much-needed resources to foreign banks, developed nations with the capacity to cope with the pandemic or international institutions.”
Africa is facing the worst health and economic crisis in decades amidst declining tax revenues, diminishing official development assistance, and rising debt obligations and costs. The slump in commodity prices and disruption of global supply chains, especially in China, as a result of the pandemic, is already hitting African economies hardest.
Calls for debt relief this week from the World Bank (WB) and International Monetary Fund (IMF) must be welcome as a first step, but do not meet the needs of African people in this life-threatening crisis.
The proposal by the WB and IMF that “only bilateral debts need to be suspended” will guarantee much-needed money continues to flow out of the continent (multilateral and private lenders hold most of the debts).
Africa Finance Ministers make more sense requesting a coordinated waiver on all interest payments, amounting to US$44bn for 2020, which could provide more fiscal space for governments as they respond to the pandemic. Even that is too small.
No African country can afford to make any debt repayments in 2020 – whether owed to bilateral creditors, multilateral institutions or private lenders without putting millions of African lives at risk.
The new money will not be available for refinancing at least in the short term and most likely in the medium term. A universal debt repayment suspension needs to be put in place to allow African countries to focus in strengthening their public health systems to adequately respond to the COVID-19 crisis and provide social protection to the most vulnerable. Suspending all debt payments is the fastest way to keep money in countries and free up resources to tackle the health and economic crises.
“Decisions need to be taken now, any delay only serves to worsen the already fragile situation and make the recovery process more expensive. Debt relief free from conditionalities is the best way to leave money in the hands of African governments to make decisions now” added Mr. Kamalingin.
The measures that the G20 takes today must be those that ensure African governments have the resources needed to respond to the crisis. The COVID-19 crisis is collapsing health systems and threatening economies in the developed world, and they are using unlimited monetary expansion, something never seen before, to address their own needs. Africa also needs a global response the like of which our world has never seen.
{{Contacts}}
Spokespersons available. To arrange for interviews contact:
Oxfam HQ Joyous A.L. Begisen Media and Communications Lead Oxfam Pan Africa Programme Mobile: +254 701 849 522 Email: Joyous.begisen@oxfam.org
Oxfam HQ Joab Okanda Financing for Development and Inequality Campaigns Advisor Oxfam Pan Africa Programme Mobile: +254 726 908 931 Email: Joab.Okanda@oxfam.org
For more information and current updates, please follow: @OxfamPanAfrica, @Oxfam
Twohereze Ltd, one of the newest home delivery platforms was only a few days old, founded by Rwagasore Jean Claude when the lockdown was summoned into effect on 21st March. His business is booming, the clients are happy, and he’s contributing to the control of coronavirus spread.
“In these critical times, moving out of your home is equivalent to exposing yourself to coronavirus. Twohereze Ltd. will fill the gap that was brought about by the lockdown by allowing people to get their groceries or other items delivered home. We can be reached out on Whatsapp, phone call or message.
“All you have to do is make a list of items you want to purchase and we will buy it for you and get it delivered. To prevent the spread of coronavirus, our personnel are provided with hand sanitizers. Our business is booming and we are trying to improve our capacity to meet the needs of all our customers.”
Another home delivery provider, Kasha Rwanda, avails beauty, health and personal care products for women.
Aissetou Sanogo, Kasha Managing Director says that digital platforms came in handy especially during the lockdown where unnecessary movements are restricted. Customers can order products using the Kasha Vuba App and have them instantly delivered.
“We even offer health products for mild diseases such as headache or flu and customers don’t need to move out at all. Our services cover Kigali in its entirety.”
During the lockdown, Kasha has recorded an increase in demand by 10% and strives daily to meet it to the best of their ability.
“However, some of our providers closed doors while others changed their working schedule. We are facing an imminent shortage of products but we will do our best to satisfy our customers. To address that challenge, we are limiting the quantity of items per person especially for personal care and health products such as hand sanitizers to be able to serve all our customers.”
Iposita has also started home delivery services for essential packages.
Patrick Safari, Director of Commercial Unit at Iposita said that they have changed their business model to match customers’ needs during the lockdown.
“With postal services now a ‘critical infrastructure’, we have introduced home delivery for essential packages starting March 24th. Our fleet in Kigali will deliver packages to customers instead of asking them to come pick their mail at our offices.”
Apart from mail delivery, customers will also be able to send for other items by calling Iposita, informing them where to pick up a package and they will have it instantly delivered.
“Our fleet will work 24/7 to deliver mail and other items to customers no matter the quantity needed. We have motorcycles, cars, and trucks which can carry items from 3 to 5 tons. Customers can pay online via Mobile Money or Airtel Money”
The Central Bank of Rwanda recently announced that mobile network operators and banks will allow zero charge transfers on all payments between bank accounts and mobile wallets, zero charges on Mobile Money transfers and zero merchant fees on all POS payments.
Most home delivery service providers charge from Rwf 1500 to Rwf 3000 depending on the customer’s location.
After the government of Rwanda imposed a complete air travel ban for 30 days, mail delivery services such as DHL cut travels to only once a week.
Rwandans are advised to use digital channels to help curb the spread of coronavirus.
With medical facilities running low on ventilators and protective masks and hampered by limited diagnostic testing capacity, the U.S. death toll from COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the virus, rose beyond 1,200.
“Any scenario that is realistic will overwhelm the capacity of the healthcare system,” New York Governor Andrew Cuomo told a news conference. He described the state’s projected shortfall in ventilators – machines that support the respiration of people have cannot breathe on their own – as “astronomical.”
“It’s not like they have them sitting in the warehouse,” Cuomo added. “There is no stockpile available.”
In a message broadcast on Radio Rwanda, Dr. Ngamije assured the nation that among the COVID-19 patients in the country, no one is in critical condition and all are responding well to treatment.
The minister has urged the public not to stigmatize people they suspect to have contracted the virus because it is a disease like other pathogens.
Dr. Ngamije recently announced that the first patient and his wife that have been on COVID-19 treatment will be discharged soon.
“We hope that by the end of this week, the first patient and his wife will have been released from the treatment center. They have no problem so far, now they are fine but we are just waiting for the appointed days to come and check them out and find out if they are no longer infected, and let them go since they are now well,” he said.
