Congolese refugees living in Rwanda benefit from World Vision donation

The Congolese refugees living in Rwanda are expected to benefit from the 50 beds and mattresses donated to Kigeme Hospital by World Vision.

The donation is aimed at catering for the growing number of patients from the refugees as well as the locals within the hospital radius.

George Gitau, the World Vision Country director, during the ceremony on September 23, 2013 said by donating to the hospital they wanted to contribute to improving services there and, in particular, “ensure that children are well taken care of and protected.”

“The hospitals’ bed capacity is 158. The beds have been placed in a newly constructed pediatrics wing, which has been the most overwhelmed section.”

The hospital director, Dr Eric Munezero, said since the refugee camp was setup the hospitals has seen an increase in the number of patients.

Dr. Munezero added that sometimes some wings got overwhelmed that we had to move patients to other sections, often different from what they are being treated for.

According to hospital figures, the number of patients seeking pediatric care grew from 52 in March to 272 in July, 2013.

The Minister for Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs, Seraphine Mukantabana, who officiated at the ceremony, urged the hospital management to make proper use of the equipment to the benefit of the community.

Hon. Mukantabana urged patients and hospital staff to guard the materials jealously so they can last longer.

She added that the Rwandan government and its partners will continue to support the hospital and improve on its capacity to provide quality health care.

Last year, World Vision Rwanda distributed aid worth 10 million Rwandan francs to households in Kigeme refugee camp.

World Vision Rwanda’s Integrated Programmes Director, Russell Dlamini, then, said that World Vision wishes to partner with the Ministry of Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs (MIDIMAR) and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other partners to improve living conditions of refugees mainly in Nkamira and Kigeme camps.

Over 74,200 refugees, 99 percent of Congolese, live in different camps in Rwanda. Most of them fled to Rwanda as earliy as 1997, while others started thronging the country last year, following the mutiny by M23, a rebel group opposed to the governement in Kinshasha.

Congolese refugees living in Rwanda benefit from World Vision donation