GASABO - Population Services International (PSI) last Friday officially launched its Gasabo regional office located in Kacyiru, Kimihurura Sector in Gasabo District.

PSI is an international NGO with programs to fight against malaria, child survival, HIV, reproductive health and non-communicable diseases, among others.

The Gasabo regional office will serve six districts; Nyarugenge, Kamonyi, Gicumbi, Bugesera, Kicukiro, and Gasabo district.

Speaking at the occasion, the PSI Country Representative, Zach Akinyemi, said: "The main objective of launching our Gasabo office is to decentralise our operations in order to move closer to the people we serve and key stakeholders at the district level.”

He said that this is also in line with the government decentralisation process, which is currently in its third phase.

Akinyemi noted that the decentralisation process will enable PSI field-staff members to participate more actively in the planning meetings, program implementation, monitoring and evaluation and reporting at the district level.

He added that the move will also allow its field staff to increase their coverage in terms of health interventions across the country.

Kigali City mayor, Fidele Ndayisaba called on PSI to continue promoting the health sector in the country through sensitising people on how best to fight against HIV/Aids and other infectious diseases.

He said that the decentralisation process would lead to the improvement of living standards countrywide.

"Rwanda has achieved tremendous progress in various areas but we still have a long way to go…I encourage PSI to always collaborate with the government in improving hygiene among Rwandans,” Ndayisaba said.

Akinyemi told The New Times four other regional offices would be launched soon.

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