KAMONYI — 500 children below the age of five in Kamonyi District will over the next five days receive free medical checkups and treatment courtesy of medics from the Rwanda Defence Forces.

This was disclosed by Maj. Dr. King Kayondo, a surgeon at Rwanda Military Hospital, during the launch of a special medical outreach programme that kicked off at Gihara Health Centre yesterday.

The five-day outreach programme is sponsored by Good Neighbours, a Korean International organisation, in conjunction with the Ministry of Health.

The children will be treated in the mobile clinics which were recently donated by the Korean government.

 "Our medical experts will examine paediatric cases which include dental care, surgery, general blood testing and treatment for other diseases,” Kayondo said.

The Managing Director of Good Neighbours-Rwanda, David Sehyeon Baek, said that the support was intended to provide healthcare to the children as part of a relief programme.

"The objective is to help the community have healthy children for a healthy future of the nation. This outreach will be extended to various communities so as to promote health activities among children,” Baek said.

The Mayor of Kamonyi, Jacques Rutsinga, advised the communities to learn from the programme, so as to maintain a healthy community.

Beneficiaries hailed the military’s outreach programme, saying it had changed their past perception of the role of the army.

"My child has had eye problems since birth. The help of army medics brings hope for my child. I realised that the soldiers are not only armed personnel, but are also helpful to the community,” said Pierre Claver Nshimiyimana, the father of five year old, Jean d’Dieu Nshimiyimana.

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