EASTERN PROVINCE

RWAMAGANA – The free medical services being offered by Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF) doctors, during the ongoing Army Week, has boosted the quality of patients’ care at Rwamagana Hospital, officials say.

On Tuesday, scores of patients were treated of different ailments by army doctors for the second consecutive day.

Dr. Claude Ndagijimana, the Director of Rwamagana District Central Hospital, said the army doctors have filled their manpower gap.

"We are privileged to have the hand of the army. Manpower has always been our undoing. That the soldiers have required skills to carry out some basic surgery is of paramount importance,” Dr. Ndagijimana said.

"You know we are at the axis of the highway, we thus admit many patients due to accidents. The presence of these well-trained military doctors will leave our personnel with a lot of experience to handle such cases,” the doctor added.

Long lines formed at the hospital as eager patients waited to be treated. Any stranger could read in the eyes of patients, the enthusiasm with which they waited.

"This Army Week reminds me of the day the Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA), rescued me from the jaws of Interahamwe militias, in Gishari Sector. I had lost hope where I was hiding in a swamp, until the God-sent army rescued me,” Jeanine Mukakarangwa, 54, reflected.

Anastasia Mukayiranga, 46, another resident commented that the humanitarian activities of the soldiers were not a surprise to her, owing to the soldiers’ past role in stopping the genocide.

The army is expected to continue with a number of activities for fourteen days.

"We are involved in a number of activities. The doctors are doing their work in hospitals; we are helping peasants to prepare banana plantations for instance, and other things,” Major Emmanuel Nyirihirwe said.

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