The Rwanda Military Hospital (RMH) has announced plans to provide free healthcare to thousands of Rwandans in Musanze, Gakenke, Burera and Nyabihu districts during this year’s Army Week.

The Week is part of the 20th liberation or Kwibohora20 activities marking two decades since the Rwanda Patriotic Front stopped the Genocide against the Tutsi, and liberated the country.

"As part of the Army Week, the RMH will treat survivors of the Genocide who still have wounds. This builds on the work already done by the hospital,” the hospital said in a statement yesterday.

To date, RMH has covered 16 districts and treated 30,000 Genocide survivors, including about 15 who have been transferred abroad for services that could not be provided in Rwanda.

Genocide survivors from Musanze, Gakenke and Burera will be treated at Ruhengeri and Nemba hospitals, according to the statement. Specialists will consult those who need further medical care or surgery. In the three districts, the target is to treat 1,000 survivors.

About 1,000 Genocide survivors from Nyabihu District will also be treated free of charge by RMH specialists.

"Non-surgical and surgical male circumcision as well as HIV counselling and testing will also be provided by the Rwanda Military Hospital in Rubavu, Musanze and Burera districts. This activity has been organised in partnership with the Society for Family Health and Drew Cares International,” the statement adds.

The official launch for the free medical services will take place at the Busogo Health Centre today afternoon.

The military hospital will also offer free dental and eye care in Musanze and Burera districts, with cataract surgery expected to be offered at Ruhengeri Hospital.

The uniformed personnel are also set to donate blood as part of the activities of the Army Week to help save the lives of Rwandans in need of blood transfusion.

The blood donation drive, also to be officially launched this Tuesday at the Kanombe Military Barracks in Kigali, was organised in partnership with the National Blood Transfusion Centre.

Army Week was initiated to support and strengthen government policies and programmes that improve national development and citizen welfare.

The campaign involves taking specialised healthcare personnel closer to citizens in need – especially those in rural and remote areas of the country where access to medical specialists is limited.