The immediate past president of Rotary international Mr. Rajendra K. Sabo is in Rwanda where he has toured different activities including the new Kigali public Library at kacyiru.
The library cost an estimated US$ 6Million of which US$ 2Million was contributed by Rotary International-Rwanda. Rajendra noted that the library was a piece of meticulous planning with a highly competent management.
However, he urged Rwanda to purchase more books to stock the library.
“The Kigali Public Library is one of the best kept secrets of Rotary International. I will always talk about it wherever i will go,” Rajendra said.
Mr. Rajendra commended the progress Rwanda has attained since 1994 when the country was totally destroyed during the genocide against ethnic Tutsi in which a million lives were lost.
“Rwandans are dedicated, disciplined and hard working people. I have noticed that although there are traffic jams in cities all over the world, the Rwandan traffic jam is always at 7:30 Am. It shows Rwandans begin working so early”. Rajendra told IGIHE.
Also a team of 18 doctors of Rotary International have so far performed 89 major surgeries at the CHK University hospital in Kigali. “I am excited to be part of this mission,” Rajendra said.
Rajendra said, “Our Rwanda Medicare project is part of the ‘Reach Out to Africa’ programme which for us is an extension of the idea ‘Serving beyond borders’.”
“We have been pursuing this bridge building between India and Africa since the last thirteen years and we are extremely happy that this time Rotary District 3080 in India is reaching out to Rwanda, part of rotary district 9150, in this common mission” he said.
We are part of one large family living on this planet earth. Reaching out to our brethren in Rwanda is the recognition of this reality of our existence and the accomplishment of ‘Service Above Self’ that rotary has imbibed in all of us.
Mr Rajendra explained that several surgeries have been performed at CHK hospital in Kigali among which 89 are classified as major surgeries.
He also highlighted one surgery of a young girl who was bitten by a dog which deformed her face, however after a 3hours surgery, her face was reformed and that “she will be able to live a dignified life”.
Another surgery was conducted on a patient who has been suffering from cancer of the larynx (voice box). The visiting doctors spent about 5hours performing this surgery.
However, Ranjendra noted that the patient requires post surgery care and chemotherapy which implies he will be transferred to Uganda for the post surgery care because it’s not provided in Rwanda.
Ranjendra said they selected Rwanda as favourable candidate for the Medicare mission because; Rwanda has recorded more progress in the past years after the Genocide. And that Rwanda had an exemplary medicare policy for the citizens.
“I have observed that Rwandans are dedicated and hard working people with commendable discipline”.
However, Rajendra observed that Rwandan health experts need to engage in exchange programs with other experienced countries to enhance quality of healthcare services.
He also noted that Rwanda health care needs to scale up specialized doctors to be able to handle specific cases.
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