Indian medics on voluntary treatment mission

A team of 20 Indian specialist doctors arrived in the country last evening to treat patients with complicated health conditions that require sophisticated surgical procedures.

Monday, April 23, 2012
Head of delegation Rajendra Saboo (2nd left) with Rotary Regional assistant Governor Ndoba Mugunga addressing journalists yesterday. The New Times / John Mbanda.

A team of 20 Indian specialist doctors arrived in the country last evening to treat patients with complicated health conditions that require sophisticated surgical procedures. They came under a project organised by Rotary International in conjunction with Rwanda’s Ministry of Health.150 patients are expected to benefit from the project within the nine days that the team will spend in the country.Rajendra Saboo, the head of the delegation said the project is an opportunity to serve Rwandans who are in dire need of such medical services."Our reach out programme is an extension of the wider goal of serving beyond borders. It’s recognition of the reality of our existence and the accomplishment of our ambitions as Rotarians,” he said, on arrival at Kigali International Airport.Saboo pointed out that the group has previously been motivated to dedicate themselves to the service of human kind, especially under their intercontinental Medicare project.He said some of the fields in which these medical services will be conducted include urology, gynaecology, plastic surgery and other types of general surgical procedures.Even though the total cost of the project was not yet established by press time, Rwandans are optimistic that the programme will greatly help them."We have had serious health complications that have often resulted into death of some patients because they cannot access medication.  This development will address some of these cases,” Faustin Murwanashyaka, a resident of Kanombe sector, Kicukiro District observed.On his part, Ndoba Mugunga, the regional Rotarian president in charge of Rwanda and Burundi said the development has been long overdue."It is a great privilege because this exercise could not have come at a better time. I am sure it will highly benefit Rwandans who cannot afford to pay for their own medication,” he observed.Today (Monday), the visiting team is scheduled to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Health stipulating the exact partnership elements.