NORTHERN PROVINCE BURERA — A foundation stone was laid yesterday for the construction of a health centre in Cyanika sector, Burera district. The construction of the health facility worth Frw160m is jointly funded by the Belgian Technical Cooperation (BTC) and Burera district. BTC provided Frw120m and other necessary hospital equipment, while the district contributed Frw40m. The work is expected to be completed within six months. Once completed, it will be the first health centre in the sector, projected to serve over 34,000 area residents. While launching the construction, the Secretary General in the Ministry of Health, Caroline Kayonga, asked the residents to adopt disease prevention measures, saying treatment should only be reserved for unpreventable diseases. She said that the Government, through the Ministry of Health is committed to reducing mother and child mortality rates. Aimé Bosenibamwe, the district Mayor, said that the health centre is an answer to the big health problem of access to treatment which the residents have been facing. Some residents have been travelling over 20 km to reach the nearest health centre at Kagogo, while others have been accessing treatment from Mutorere, Kisoro, in Uganda. Dr Jean Marie Trome, who represented BTC at the function, urged residents to ensuring proper hygiene in order to prevent diseases. Ends