A week-long medical outreach exercise will see military medics offer specialized treatment to Genocide survivors with different ailments in Ngororero District, according to Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF).

The exercise that is part of the annually held Army Week will be carried out by medical officers from Rwanda Military Hospital.

It was organized in partnership with the Fund for support to Genocide Survivors (FARG) and it is targeting mainly vulnerable survivors who are still suffering from physical and psychological wounds resulting from the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi. 

The clinical services the survivors will benefit from include orthopedics, gynecology, urology, internal medicine, psychology, psychiatry, ophthalmology, dermatology, dental, ENT and general surgery.

The activities, which had begun earlier on February 13, were officially launched at Muhororo Hospital on Wednesday in the presence of the Governor of Western Province, Alphonse Munyentwari, among other officials.

In his remarks, Governor Munyentwari called all citizens to comfort and stay in solidarity with genocide survivors and to maintain cohesion in their respective communities.

He further commended the RDF for stopping the genocide and helping the community to achieve security, good health and development through medical services, and other socio-economic programmes.

"RDF has been exemplary in delivering good services to our people and also promoting unity and reconciliation among Rwandans. It is our task as citizens to make use of the good foundation and achieve progress,” Governor Munyentwari told locals in Ngororero.

Brig Gen Dr Emmanuel Ndahiro, the RMH Commandant said that the medical outreach was initiated by the RDF leadership in collaboration with FARG with an aim of bringing specialized medical services near genocide survivors and other vulnerable people in remote areas in the country.

He said that from 2012 more than sixty thousand vulnerable survivors have received treatment through Army Week programs in 29 districts reached across the country.

The exercise is expected to benefit 900 genocide survivors with different cases and they will be treated from the hospitals of Muhororo and Kabaya. 

In her testimony, Ancilla Munganyimana, 64, recounted the hard time she endured during the Genocide, saying she was severely beaten and thrown into River Nyabarongo by the interahamwe militia but she miraculously survived.

"I still live with serious wounds resulting from that ordeal. We are grateful for such medical services brought to us and express our sincere thanks to our government and particularly our President Paul Kagame for such care,” she said.