Military Hospital offers free treatment to survivors

Genocide survivors with different ailments in Bugesera district on Monday started receiving free treatment offered by Rwanda Military Hospital medical personnel at Nyamata Hospital and Ngeruka Health Centre. Françoise Uwera Kabanda, the in-charge of health at the Fund for the Support of Genocide Survivors (FARG), said the one-week treatment exercise targets some 826 patients who were recently registered. “The treatment they used to receive was not effective to heal them considering the gravity of their ailments. There was a need for more experienced and expert medical personnel to help them,” Kabanda said, adding that others who failed to register would be considered later. “There is no progress if people are not healthy. These drugs will improve their health, and enable them to work for the good of their families as well as the country,” Kabanda said. She said the programme is beneficial to patients as the treatment is timely, cheaper, swift and promising. Beneficiaries speak out “The initial drugs I used to be given were not of much help. But I expect these new ones to heal me so I can be able to look after my family,” said Gilbert Gatari, 57, a widower. He re-married and now is responsible for a family of eight. Gatari said he was drabbed in the backbone during the Genocide, sustaining permanent injury which has incapacitated him. Walking out of the consultation room, Alice Mukashyaka, 31, another beneficiary, said permanent headache never permits her to do any constructive work. “I used to be fed like a kid. This is the first time I’m going to use this kind of medicine. I’m sure it will heal me so I work like others do,” the mother of three told The New Times. She said a club was used to hit her head during the Genocide. Dr King Kayondo, the director of medical and allied services at Rwanda Military Hospital, said about 54 military staff are involved in the outreach programme, including specialists, therapists, technicians, nurses, among others. Dr Kayondo said those meant for surgery will be treated two weeks later. Trauma, mental, and surgery related issues are among the cases they have been experiencing since they started the treatment.“Obviously, this programme is good in that it will help heal these vulnerable people to enable them to work so they develop themselves. The healing contributes to the fight against poverty and the safety sustainability,” Dr Kayondo said. FARG Kabanda said, so far, more than 9,500 patients from Nyaruguru, Rusizi, Nyamasheke, Ngoma, Huye, Gisagara, Karongi, Rutsiro and Kirehe districts have received free treatment. He said all the 18,756 patients who were registered across the country are treated.

National

Military Hospital offers free treatment to survivors