GroFin treated my clinic so I could treat my patients: Dr Sowaf Ubarijoro

Launched in 2011 by Dr Sowaf Ubarijoro, Kigali-based Ubuzima Polyclinic offers advanced healthcare services such as laboratory analysis, paediatrics, gynaecology, internal medicine and minor surgery, in addition to basic healthcare. As both owner and managing director of Ubuzima Polyclinic, Sowaf had his hands full and needed help with running his business as well as funding it for growth. But the search for the right expert to partner with him wasn’t an easy one. Sowaf says: “Having got my business up and running, I continued to discuss with different banks on how to grow my practice sustainably, but they failed to provide me with solutions. Till date, only GroFin has provided a satisfactory solution to my business problems.” GroFin’s unique model of finance as well as business support helped Sowaf at a time when he was struggling to run his business, and facing many hiccups on the road to entrepreneurship. “Besides demonstrating our faith in Sowaf, our investment also aligns well with the Government’s comprehensive Health Sector Strategic Plan for 2012-18 and shows our continued support to the private sector for enhancing service delivery in Rwanda’s healthcare sector,” adds Christian. With GroFin’s support and finance, Sowaf has seen the clinic’s turnover go up several-fold as his practice has grown to over 10,000 patients a year. He has expanded his services to include dentistry and clinic staff has gone up from 18 to 23. “It wasn’t only about finance, but also about their technical skills. I don’t think my business would have survived had I not met GroFin,” concludes Sowaf. About GroFin: GroFin provides a proven blend of need-based finance and value-adding business support to unserved and underserved entrepreneurs in Africa and the Middle East. An award-winning, international and multicultural company headquartered in Mauritius, GroFin has over 130 employees across Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Zambia, South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Egypt, Oman, Jordan and Iraq. GroFin is supported by over 30 funders and partners, with committed funding in excess of US$500 million. Its performance is recognised by industry experts, and has seen GroFin win the 2007 Africa Investor Award, the 2008 Africa Investor Award for Best Initiative in Support of SME Development, the 2010 World Business and Development Award, the 2013 Ghana Finance Award as well as the 2015 Ghana-Africa Business Award. Most recently, GroFin, together with co-investors Shell Foundation (an independent charity), the German development bank KfW, the Norwegian Investment Fund for Developing Countries, Norfund, and the Dutch government through the Dutch Good Growth Fund (DGGF), has launched the first of its kind, uncapped and unlimited-life fund, the SGB Fund, with initial commitments of US$100 million that are expected to grow to US$150 million in two years and make it one of the largest funds specifically targeting SMEs in Africa. Contact GroFin Rwanda: Physical Address: 4th Floor Tele 10 Building, Airport Boulevard, Nyarutarama, KigaliPostal Address: PO Box 7139, KigaliTelephone Number: +250 252 587150 / 587151Fax Number: +250 252 587152Email Address: rwanda@grofin.comWebsite Address: www.grofin.com Contact Ubuzima Polyclinic:Physical Address: KG 17 Ave, Kimironko-Gasabo, Next to UR College of Education, KigaliTelephone Number: +250 788 540557Email Address: ubuzimapolyclinic@gmail.comWebsite Address: http://ubuzimapolyclinic.com

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GroFin treated my clinic so I could treat my patients: Dr Sowaf Ubarijoro