HUYE - Health Minister, Dr Richard Sezibera, has challenged researchers to translate their knowledge into action and activities that bring change in the average Rwandan’s life.

Closing the 3rd National University of Rwanda (NUR)’s annual International Scientific Research Conference on Thursday, Sezibera said that the country is involved in a process of transformation and that there is more need than ever before to translate knowledge and commitments into actions.

"It is not enough to have a wonderful conference, it is not enough to be involved in research and to be involved in the dissemination of knowledge within a restrained group of people,” said Sezibera.

"What this conference has done and I am sure what future conferences will continue to do, is provide us with the knowledge base we need to make a difference in the lives of our people”.

"At the end of the day, our success or failure will be measured in the manner in which the photographs of malnourished women and children become a thing of the past. It will be measured in the manner in which post harvest infrastructure is used well and in a manner in which Rwandans can produce food to feed their families, market their produce and add value to it,” he noted.

The conference attracted participants from 14 countries. 134 presentations were made during the three day conference.

Professor Martin O’Hara, the NUR vice Rector in charge of Academic Affairs, said that global hunger and malnutrition will be combated only if various stakeholders joined forces.

"We at the National University of Rwanda see ourselves as an important driving force in this process, and by organising this conference, we demonstrate and illustrate how we are committed to change, to research and to development,” said O’Hara.

Rwanda’s participants were drawn from various higher education and research institutions, decision makers and planners, three top officials from every district charged with nutrition security, staff from ministries, and representatives from development partners and peasant farmers.

Presentations covered a whole spectrum, from basic fundamental research to applied research and practical aspects presented by local government planners and farmers.

Ends