The Director General of RBC, Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana made the revelation yesterday appearing in a talk show aired on TV1.
“We have registered three recipients of COVID-19 vaccine who succumbed to the virus but it is not surprising because they had other chronic diseases. For instance, one of them had chronic cancer while another one suffered from heart disease,” he said.
Dr. Nsanzimana explained that the vaccine strengthens immune system but doesn’t prevent recipients from succumbing to COVID-19.
“We cannot attribute their deaths to COVID-19 because they had been already seriously weakened by other chronic diseases,” he noted.
Dr. Nsanzimana urged the general public to continue adhering to instituted health guidelines because COVID-19 vaccine doesn’t prevent someone from being infected or spreading the virus.
“We have recorded 400 recipients of COVID-19 vaccine who caught the virus. They were not critically ill but the majority of them were awaiting the second dose. People should avoid complacency because receiving the vaccine doesn’t strengthen the immune system 100 percent,” he advised.
Rwanda confirmed the first Coronavirus case on 14th March 2020. Since then, 33 260 people have been tested positive of whom 26 734 recovered, 6 129 are active cases, 12 are critically ill while 397 have succumbed to the virus.
A total of 391,058 people have been vaccinated since Rwanda began countrywide inoculation programme on 5th March 2021.
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.
The new guidelines for selected hospitality establishments in the City of Kigali were issued on 17th June 2021 to contain the upsurge in COVID-19 cases.
The previous list which featured 4 five-star hotels and 11 restaurants was revised yesterday.
Frequently visited hospitality establishments added to the new list include 29 restaurants and four-star hotels (9).
The nine hotels include; Residence Prima 2000 Apartment, Phoenix Apartments, Lemigo Hotel, Mille Collines Hotel, Park Inn by Radisson, Ubumwe Grande Hotel, Gorilla Golf Hotel, High Ground Villa Apartments and Grand Legacy Hotel .
Restaurants on the new list are; Java Restaurant, Riders Lounge, Pili Pili Restaurant, Sole Luna Restaurant, Brioche, Blackstone Restaurant, Bourbon Coffee, Select Boutique Restaurant, Bwok Restaurant, Choma’d Bar and Grill, Y&T Cocktail bar, Fuschia Remera, 360 Degrees Pizza, Camellia, Dolce and Century Park (Tung Chinese, Billy’s Bistro and Chillax Lounge), Heaven Holdings (Heaven & Fusion Restaurants), Hadassah Restaurant, Cactus, Zen, Chez Lando Restaurant, Chez Robert, The Fork, Khana Khazana, Coco bean Restaurant, Lavana, Sakae Japanese & Korean Restaurant and Mumbai Spice Kitchen.
Previously listed hotels include Kigali Marriott Hotel, Radisson Blu & Kigali Convention Center Hotel, Kigali Serena Hotel and The Retreat Hotel.
Restaurants are; The Retreat Restaurant, Choose Kigali Restaurant, Meza Malonga Restaurant, Brachetto Restaurant, Soy Restaurant, Nyurah Restaurant, Inka Steak House, The Hut Restaurant, Epicurien Restaurant, Poivre Noir Restaurant, Repub Lounge and Kury Kingdom Restaurant.
According to a joint statement signed yesterday by Rwanda Development Board (RDB) and the Ministry of Health, newly selected hospitality establishments are required to comply with these health guidelines effective from 25th June 2021.
As of newly established measures, all staff in selected hotels and restaurants and all clients visiting these establishments are required to present a negative COVID-19 test (PCR or Antigen rapid test).
Tests must be taken within 7 days for visiting clients and 14 days for staff while testing can be done at designated sites at own cost.
As per new guidelines, accredited private clinics with partner hotels may arrange on-site testing in an appropriate room available at the hotel.
Only trained medical personnel staff from accredited clinics will be allowed to conduct the tests and results that must be uploaded into the national health management information system.
All clients are required to present the results at the hotel, restaurant entrance to a designated staff who must scan the QR code on the clients’ certificate and access the RBC app to confirm authenticity. Clients may also be requested to present their identity cards for verification of test results.
All residents in hotels are required to submit a negative test result before checking in the hotel.
Issued guidelines indicate that selected hotels and restaurants will report status on staff testing to RDB and RBC every two weeks. They are also required to give notice of the exact number of people that can be hosted in various outlets and meeting rooms equivalent to 30% occupancy while clients who do not have a valid test result will be denied access to the hotel or restaurant.
The statement also reads that outdoor dining and events are encouraged where feasible as they present less risk for the spread of COVID-19 pandemic. Participants are however encouraged to continue adhering to COVID-19 preventive measures.
Other hotels and restaurants not mentioned on the list will be subject to randomized sample testing undertaken by RBC for both their clients and staff.
US Ambassador to Rwanda Peter H. Vrooman led the handover of almost 100 video laryngoscopes and more than 8,000 pulse oximeters, tools which will provide urgent support to medical practitioners and community health workers around the country as Rwanda fights a new wave of COVID-19 cases.
“The partnership in public health between the United States and Rwanda is helping to save lives every day as we work together to fight COVID-19 and other critical public health challenges,” he said.
The 96 new video laryngoscopes, valued at approximately Rwf500,000 each, will help Rwandan medical professionals stay safe while ensuring COVID-19 patients get the oxygen they need to survive. Each video laryngoscope kit includes both adult and youth models to ensure maximum versatility.
The 8,300 new pulse oximeters, valued at almost Rwf13,000 each, will be distributed widely to help community health workers use oxygen levels to identify people that need advanced medical care.
The new medical equipment is funded by the US Department of Defense and comes through the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) and the United States Overseas Humanitarian, Disaster Assistance, and Civic Aid (US OHDACA) program, a unique humanitarian assistance package that builds Rwanda’s effectiveness to prepare and respond to COVID-19. The donation was coordinated by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (U.S. CDC), which has played a leading role in supporting Rwanda’s ability to prevent, detect, and respond to COVID-19.
The donation is part of the more than Rwf 17 billion that the United States has invested in Rwanda’s COVID-19 response since March 2020. This support includes the construction of hand-washing stations across Rwanda; support for public communications; staff and vehicles to support contact tracing; laboratory diagnostic equipment and supplies; support for training of frontline workers; medical equipment including ventilators, patient monitors, hospital beds, intensive care units, mobile X-ray machines, video laryngoscopes, and pulse oximeters; and infection prevention and control supplies such as biohazard bags, alcohol, soap, and personal protective equipment.
Addressing both chambers, Minister Ndagijimana pointed out that the fiscal policy of 2021/22 will prioritize spending to deliver on investments aimed at achieving National Strategy for Transformation (NST1) goals.
“Significant budget spending will focus on the needs under the Economic Recovery Plan and the National Strategy for Transformation with much attention to the key economic sectors, as well as the rollout of the Covid-19 vaccination program,” he said.
{{Resources }}
The total resources estimated for the fiscal year 2021/22 will amount to Rwf3,807 billion. This amount is made up of domestic revenues amounting to Rwf1,993.0 billion comprising of Rwf 1,717.2 billion from tax revenue and Rwf275.8 billion from other revenue collection. External grants are estimated at Rwf 612.2 billion whilst external loans of Rwf 651.5 billion is envisaged for accrual to the Treasury.
{{Expenditure }}
Equally to the projected resources, total expenditure in the fiscal year 2021/22 is projected at Rwf3,807 billion. This figure is made up of recurrent spending of Rwf 2,431.7 and capital spending worth Rwf1,393.3 billion. Furthermore, projected spending include an amount of Rwf 5.7 billion on inventory, Rwf 43.8 billion under various equity investment and fund shares for government and loans spending amount of Rwf 134.9 billion.
{{NST-1 and Resources Allocation}}
Government’s expenditure policies in fiscal year 2021/22 are guided by National Strategy for Transformation priorities and objectives. To this end, the Economic Transformation pillar takes the lion’s share of the resources at Rwf 2,234 billion amounting to 58.7 % of the total budget. Social transformation will take up Rwf 1,034 billion (27.2 %) while Transformational Governance is allocated Rwf538 billion representing 14.01% of the total budget.
In line with NST-1 strategic objectives, some of the priority areas agreed during planning and budgeting consultations formed the basis for resource allocation in 2021/22 fiscal year as shown below;
Agriculture productivity will be increased through scaling up use of inputs.
The budget will cater for increased access to electricity and clean water through construction of water supply systems.
Promoting urbanization will include execution of urban development project in secondary cities. Affordable housing projects will be supported with basic infrastructure.
Other areas of focus include; accelerating transport projects and construction of national roads, promoting innovation and increasing digital literacy, strengthening the health system by increasing access to quality health, improving the quality of education, strengthening social protection programs by Scaling up the coverage of Social Protection programs and support businesses affected by Covid-19 through Economic recovery fund.
The 2021/22 draft finance bill is in line with the 2021/22–2023/24 Budget Framework Paper presented to Parliament on May 5th 2021 and was amended to reflect the recommendations from the Parliament as submitted on June 3rd, 2021.
Kagame made the observation yesterday as he attended ‘Qatar Economic Forum’ on topics revolving around leadership in a Post-Pandemic World.
Macron visited Rwanda for two-day official visit from 27th to 28th May 2021.
On his visit, the French President admitted his country’s responsibility in Genocide against Tutsi.
“Standing here today, with humility and respect, by your side, I have come to recognize our responsibilities,” said Macron.
He revealed that France had a duty to admit the “suffering it inflicted on the Rwandan people by too long valuing silence over the examination of the truth.”
Macron said that only those who had survived the horrors “can perhaps forgive; give us the gift of forgiveness”.
When asked what he thought about the apology, Kagame said that the visit of President Macron and the statement he made were important in outlining the basis of the apology he made to Rwanda and Rwandans referring to French involvement in Genocide against Tutsi.
“This was very important not only in terms of the apology but also about the truth of what happened,” he stated.
The President highlighted that admitting the responsibility is important to desisting propagandists denying and trivializing Genocide against Tutsi.
“Admitting this responsibility was important in many ways because in the recent years, we have noticed increase in the denial and revision of the Genocide history and all kind of narratives beginning to form to create a different story. France has been big part of that. The truth that came from President Macron and the admission he made on France’s responsibility is helpful to managing this otherwise negative development that we have noticed in the recent years,” said Kagame.
Kagame explained that with better relations and the basis of the truth that came out and putting things largely in the right perspective, both countries are likely to enjoy ‘better cooperation and joint investments in places and areas that matter for our development as Rwanda and I am sure in the end it benefits France as well’.
“This kind of cooperation is very important and we are looking forward to that and building on living this ugly history of ours behind us and being able to forge ahead is what Rwanda is looking for,” he emphasized.
Kagame made the revelation on Monday 21st June 2021 at he attended Qatar Economic Forum.
The President explained that local manufacturing is the optimal way for Africa to have adequate vaccines for its people.
“Simply, Africa has to be equal partner with the rest of the World when it comes to manufacturing vaccines instead of waiting for vaccines from those places where they are manufactured. Right now, Africa is busy trying to do exactly that to find partners. To start manufacturing vaccines on our continent, we have IFC, European Union, other partners that are willing to come and do exactly that with our continent,” he said.
Kagame revealed that Rwanda, South Africa and Senegal have been selected as vaccine manufacturing hubs.
“Once that is up and running, I think we should be able to get vaccines we need on time or at the same time with the rest of the World. There are going to be three hubs on our continent and these countries are advanced on that. These include South Africa, Senegal and Rwanda,” he said.
Kagame underscored that these hubs will manufacture vaccines using mRNA technology adding that Rwanda has reached advanced stage in preparations of vaccine manufacturing plant.
“We will be among these hubs where the manufacturing on the continent is going to happen. For Rwanda in particular, we have partnered with some industries that are specialized in mRNA technology,” he noted.
“This is a new technology that has wide applications in agriculture or other diseases. We have already discussed with people owning that technology. We are discussing with people who will help with the financing and I think in few months we should hear a different story,” added Kagame.
Currently, two COVID-19 vaccines using Messenger RNA (mRNA) technologies have proved safe and highly efficacious. These include one developed by Pfizer and BioNTech and another by Moderna. This type of technology induces cells to produce a protein, or a piece of a protein, that triggers an immune response in the body.
World Health organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus recently revealed that ‘the benefit of this technology, which has been in development for decades, is that it is potentially easier to scale than alternatives and could be faster and easier to adapt for COVID-19 variants of concern’.
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The resolutions are part of other stringent measures taken to control the up surging COVID-19 cases and deaths.
The meeting was chaired by President Paul Kagame at Village Urugwiro.
“Movements are prohibited between 7p.m-4a.m. All businesses must close by 6p.m. Movements between Kigali and other provinces and movements between districts across the country are prohibited except for medical reasons and other essential services. However, vehicles transporting goods will continue to operate with no more than two people on board,” reads part of the cabinet statement released today
New measures follow steady upsurge in COVID-19 infections where the country has recorded 3153 new cases since 11th June 2021.
The statement also shows that physical meetings will continue but must not exceed 30% of venue capacity. Negative COVID-19 test results will be required for all participants.
All social gatherings and celebrations of all kinds have been prohibited both in public and private settings.
Traditional, civil and religious weddings have been suspended.
Public offices will continue with essential staff at no more than 15% percent of all employees while others continue working from home on a rotational basis.
Restaurants and cafés shall operate at 30% capacity and shall receive clients until 6pm. Negative COVID-19 test results will be required for designated restaurants.
Among other measures, tourism activity will continue in strict adherence to COVID-19 health guidelines. This includes hotels, tour operators, and transport services facilitating guests.
The month-long campaign was launched on 1 June 2021, by the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion, the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) Rwanda, and other partners to promote positive parenting.
In the video released today by UNICEF Rwanda; Ange Kagame, the daughter of President Paul Kagame talked about how a baby’s brain develops most in the first 1,000 days at a pace never repeated again.
The mother of one also highlighted the role of both parents, male and female in the overall development of their baby.
In the earliest years of life, a child’s brain develops at an astounding speed of more than 1 million new neural connections every second.
This period offers once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to shape a child’s ability to learn, grow, form healthy relationships, and contribute fully to society in adulthood.
Parents are the key providers of health, nutrition, stimulation, opportunities for early learning, and protection that babies need for healthy brain development. Another area where parents can contribute significantly to a child’s development is by playing with the baby.
This helps babies learn and build crucial life skills – from problem-solving to expressing ideas – and strengthening the bond between child and parent.
Parenting is one of the most challenging jobs in the world and now COVID-19 has placed even more pressure on parents and caregivers to support their children’s learning and development, keep their households functioning, and look after their families’ wellbeing.
The video explains the various techniques such as ‘serve and return’ that parents can use to strengthen their bond with their babies while ensuring their holistic development.
