EASTERN PROVINCE

RWAMAGANA — Every Rwandan should feel the plight of the deprived children of the country. This was the message conveyed to Rwamagana District leaders recently by the Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry, Monique Nsanzabaganwa.

Nsanzabaganwa asked the leaders to sensitize residents to love all children equally as though they were their own.

Addressing leaders and orphans on Monday, at Ecole des Science Infirmiers (ESI) the minister said it was everybody’s responsibility to feel the plight of suffering children in the country.

"These children are our neighbours in villages (imidugu). They should not suffer when we are watching them. Let us always come to their rescue," she said. The minister handed over a cheques of Frw200,000 to one child heading a family.

Speaking at the same function, Dr. Innocent Nyaruhirira, the former state minister for Aids and other infectious diseases, observed Rwanda’s resource was its population.

"Those children need to be developed into a useful resource," said Dr. Nyaruhirira, currently the head of King Faisal Hospital.

The ceremony was part of the campaign of members of the Unity Club to implore leaders, and local residents to be exemplary and patriotic in fostering unity of Rwandans while focusing on economic development of the nation.

In particular, the club, a brain child of the First Lady Jeannette Kagame underlines the problem of orphans, child-headed families and other vulnerable children.

Dr. Nyaruhirira explained that the Unity Club does not concern only ministers and or government official but also residents. He observed that it’s only when people are united, that they can help one another.

Immaculate Muhawenimana, who spoke on behalf of the vulnerable children, decried the burden of orphans in the country. Though helpless, she said, she looks after three children. She appealed to government and other well wishers to extend some help to her family.

One of the residents who attended the meeting Siada Mpumure decried the conduct of some children, saying whereas some youth fail get school fees others get and misuse it.

Mpumure noted that unlike in the past where children were properly shaped by culture, today youth are slowly losing the cultural values that used to cultivate discipline among children.

She said some school going children copy the western styles,a culture that erodes discipline. She added that even some parents are blindfolded and fail to advise their children accordingly. Mpumure wondered where children rights’ start and ends.

The mayor of Rwamagana, Valens Ntezirembo advised parents to stick to their roles of shaping their children properly. The mayor urged residents to always advise the youth who go wrong.

The executive Secretary of the Unity Club Cartas Kayirigisa appealed to parents to bear children they are capable of looking after.

Ends