NORTHERN PROVINCE

GICUMBI — Medical personnel in Gicumbi district have appealed to the government to increase their working allowances.

Speaking at a function to evaluate the state of medical services in Gicumbi, a number of health workers said there is shortage of health personnel which leaves the few available staff with heavy work load.

The evaluation exercise was conducted by a =team of medical personnel from the Clinton Foundation last week. Held at Byumba Eglise Episcopal du Rwanda (EER), the function brought together medical staff from Byumba Hospital, heads of district health centres and representatives of NGOs providing healthcare services in the district.

Participants highlighted lack of adequate training for medical staff in most medical centres. They said this results into heavy workload for the few available qualified medical personnel. They also highlighted, inadequate accommodation facilities and transport to their work places as some of their burning challenges.

"At times it becomes a problem for one to attend to emergency cases during the night due to lack of transport to the work place," said one lady participant.

Addressing the audience, the head of the Clinton Foundation delegation Liban Mugabo said the purpose of their interaction was to share problems within the medical profession with their Gicumbi counterparts.

"Each of you should freely contribute to this assessment and evaluation exercise of medical experiences encountered in your daily duties," said Mugabo.

The director of Byumba Hospital Dr. Deocles Mukama observed the Clinton Foundation is a partner in the development of medical services in Rwanda.

"We are still waiting to know which medical service provision area will receive support from Clinton Foundation after this assessment," said Dr. Mukama.

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