KIGALI - Kigali City Council, on Friday, officially launched a health initiative, dubbed ‘Support Programme to Health Development of Kigali City’ (PAPSDSK).

The launch of the programme, worth Euros 15.2 million, (approximately Rwf 12 billion) was presided over by the Minister of Health, Dr. Richard Sezibera.

The four-year initiative is co-funded by the Government of Rwanda and Belgium, and implemented by KCC, in conjunction with Belgian Development Agency (BTC).

The project includes the construction of seven international standard health centres, which will contribute to capacity development of health facilities, including training of administrative and service providers, and carry out research activities at the Kigali University Teaching Hospital (CHU-K).

It will also provide biomedical equipment such as ultrasound scanners and operating theatre radioscopy to district hospitals in Gasabo, Nyarugenge and Kicukiro, and supply CHU-K with an SC-Scan to help improve referral medical services.

Currently, there are 35 health centres in the city, 10 hospitals and 132 private clinics.

Dr Sezibera said that urban planning "must consider the health of the people, including healthy infrastructure, such as sewage system, parks (commuter parking yards) and pavements (walk-ways).”

"Health is not about curing disease only; it’s about lifestyle, individual responsibility to take care of our bodies,” added the minister. He called upon the public to go for medical check-ups.

"Beginning this year, RAMA, (workers’ insurance scheme) has started paying for medical check- ups for its subscribers. I urge other health insurance companies to do the same,” Sezibera said.

Sezibera said that similar programmes will go on around the country "and we will continue looking for ways to facilitate them.”

He observed that private health clinics, hospitals and pharmacies had improved the quality of their services, but added that they should consider professionalism before profits.

"There are a number of medical practitioners in the public sector who give half-hearted services. Those who do such things should think twice,” he warned.

The event, which was part of what was called ‘Health Open Day for Kigali City’, was attended by the Belgian Ambassador to Rwanda Ivo Goemans, who promised his county’s continued support to Rwanda.

In a separate but related event earlier in the day, Kigali City Mayor, Dr Aisa Kirabo Kacyira, also launched the second phase of Mobile Clinic, where she handed over two vehicles to Gasabo District authorities at Rusororo Sector.

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