Editor,

RE: "Construction of $150m health varsity in Burera District starts next month” (The New Times, May 17).

This is yet another great project in our country, and I believe that it will definitely turn Rwanda into a medical hub in East Africa.

Thousands of patients from the East African Community travel to India for specialised treatment. If this can be done in Rwanda, it means people would be saving a lot in terms of the costs of travelling to far distant places for expensive medical procedures.

In terms of access, Rwanda would be nearer for patients in the region compared to travelling to India.

Similarly, travelling from Goma in DR Congo to the capital Kinshasa by road where one would receive medical services takes seven days while one would use two days from Kagera in Tanzania to Dar es Salaam.

People in Sheshe areas would prefer Rwanda because it takes a few hours on road to reach any part of the country.

Also, Rwanda has got one of the most enjoyable, cool and serene environment that brings about new hope in the lives of the sick. Let’s turn Burera varsity into new Hopkins University.

Yulian

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This is really strategic thinking and forward looking. This is another solid move to make Rwanda a knowledge-based economy. Medical tourism is what the region is now missing.

More than 1,000 patients travel to India, this number can be moved to Rwanda and provide services to over 150 million population of the region. Health services cannot be separated from the MICE strategy as it complements the required services needed to drive the new untapped services that are lacking in the entire region.

Thumbs up to the initiators of this project. Go Rwanda, Go Rwanda.

Richard Niwenshuti