Last week, experts in the health sector revisited the progress of in vitro fertilization or commonly abbreviated as IVF.

The practice was introduced about a year ago with the aim of helping couples with complications get babies and at least five children have been born in the country using this technology.

Dr Eugène Ngoga, an obstetrician and gynecologist at Mediheal Diagnostic and Fertility Centre, said the technology has been a success in Rwanda.

He explained that currently children who have been delivered using the method were normal and in a good state.

The service is being offered by a team of about seven IVF medics, including laboratory workers and embryologists.

However the delay in the introduction of IVF was mainly due to the high costs associated but still a couple has to cough up to Rwf 3.5 million to access the service using an equipment which is worth approximately Rwf225 million).

Despite the expenses, the cost is now much lower than previously when it was conducted abroad and about 30 to 40 women in the country access the service per day.

Elsewhere, residents of Rwamagana District decried the state of hygiene at Nyarusange Abattoir, which supplies most of the meat sold in Rwamagana town.

The 29 year old abattoir, is in dire state and requires immediate renovation and expansion.

Clean water sources are far fewer than those needed and drainage channels are often clogged with cow dung and rotting blood making the entire facility become overwhelmed with dirt, according to the residents.

Manaseh Dusenge, a meat dealer, said people were at a high risk of contracting diseases from meat, adding that many abattoirs operate in poor hygienic conditions, unprotected against flies and dust.

In other health developments last week, a 5-year grant, worth $25 million (Rwf19 billion), by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) McGovern-Dole was awarded to World Food Programme (WFP) Rwanda to support the national school feeding programme.

Four districts namely; Karongi, Nyamagabe, Nyaruguru and Rutsiro will benefit from the grant which will be implemented by WFP in partnership with the Ministry of Education and that of Agriculture.

During the signing ceremony at the US embassy on Monday, US envoy to Rwanda, Erica Barks-Ruggles said Rwanda’s school feeding programme deserves all the support, observing that the programme had been fruitful by increasing school attendance and improving students’ performance.

Also Geraldine Mukeshimana, the Minister for Agriculture said the government recognises the school feeding programme as a tool that can potentially reduce school dropout rate and fight malnutrition among the children, adding that farmers and food processors in the country will also benefit from the grant.

Valerie N. Guarnieri, the WFP Regional Director for East and Central Africa, said Rwanda becomes the third country in the region, after Ethiopia and Kenya, to receive such a grant due to the government’s commitment to education.