The Prime Minister Anastase Murekezi has challenged health workers in the country to step up the quality of services they give to citizens since a lot is expected from them.

He was speaking at the closure of a civic education training (Itorero) for health workers, yesterday, at the Rwanda Defence Forces Combat Training Centre in Gabiro.

"Citizens expect a lot from you. They expect better services in terms of treating them, counseling them, going closer to them, helping them keep good hygiene.  They need to be healthy to work for individual and national development,” Murekezi said.

At least 762 health workers attended the training which started last Sunday.

The training focused on values and ethics of the health profession, national development and the Rwandan culture. It was also a platform to share ideas about the development of the nation, through citizen centred service delivery.

The Premier urged health workers to work with devotion and live exemplary lives that will draw admiration for their profession.

"Health is critical in the development of every country. There is no good life without adequate good health workers that love their country,” Murekezi said, as he pledged more government support towards developing the health sector.

The trainees included ministry of Health officials, workers in referral hospitals, health centres and district hospitals, district leaders in charge of health care, workers from private health institutions, and partners in the sector.

Boniface Rucagu, the National Chairman of Itorero hailed the health workers’ behavior during the training referring to them as "obedient and respectful trainees.”

Ernestine Karigirwa, a nurse from Nyabiheke Health Centre said that the training was resourceful.

Among the many lessons she picked from the civic education is team work. She pledged to go back and encourage fellow health care workers to work as a team.

The state minister for Public and primary health care Dr. Patrick Ndimubanzi promised that the civic education will continue until all the 18,000 health workers in Rwanda are covered.

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