Author: b_igi_adm1n

By: Diana Mutimura

Many people may not give physical fitness the attention it deserves but Mugabo Claude who does his gym exercise at The Manor Hotel in Nyarutarama says fitness is very important to a person’s life because physical fitness keeps you active and strong.

He adds that routine fitness exercises reduces nervousness and depression besides physical fitness as well as lowering the risk of heart diseases.

Giving a personal experience, Mugabo says he has spent 15 years doing different fitness exercises that have helped him shape his body size, weight and strength.

The Manor’s Sal’s Fitness center is designed to ease the pressures of life, rejuvenate and promote health.

Sal’s Fitness is spacious and offers fitness assessment, with qualified instructors, personal training programs in a Gymnasium, Aerobics Studio and massage.

Igihe.com interacted with Emmanuel Buregeya, the fitness instructor at The Manor Hotel gym. He explains the importance of body fitness as a twenty year trainer experienced in training on body fitness.

Buregeya says that gym is a place for every one despite the age, sex and status. He notes that at the gym he receives young ladies that workout to maintain their body figures, mothers who want to reduce weight and men who want to become muscular or minimize their weights.

He cautions people to always go for medical checkup to ease work for the trainer because sometimes a person may like sports and does not tell the truth. This could cause health problems due to subjection of their bodies to tough exercises.

He describes some of the physiological feature which changes because of physical fitness when it is done every day.

Features such as Composition, flexibility, and mental clarity are components of physical fitness which are influenced by regular physical and mental exercise.

Buregeya observes that when some think of fitness, the first thing that pops into minds is the fatness or making body muscles for men but the busier our lives get, the more dependent we become on things that make our lives easier such as cars, computers and television sets which can also encourage us to be less active and cause fatigue.

The gym specialist advices people to embrace the fitness club and swimming to curb stress complications at once.

Although most people see Massage palours, saunas, aerobic gym and, swimming as treasure for the rich people, Emmanuel believes that if people like sports, money wouldn’t be a problem to any one and he says people avoid that mentality.

For safety at the gym, he says does the job as a professional. In case of an emergency, first Aid is given. To him the doctor is not needed as long as the person presents their medical history.

Emmanuel emphasizes that it’s all about being totally fit, when you are living and active with a balanced lifestyle. At The Manor Hotel the big number received at the fitness center are women and men that want to reduce weight, keep fit and strong.

For Africans naturally, we eat all the organic food needed, do long walks which can be seen as a form of exercise to people who cannot afford the gym costs and that is necessary to one’s body because eating without exercising, the body is useless and that’s the reason many opt for sauna to reduce body fats.

In life, there are challenges in everything and the manager of The Manor’s Sal’s Fitness center who prefered to remain annonymous citing personal reasons says that, as a part of business they receive few people yet the employer will need their pay on time.

Emmanuel warns some ladies who opt for a short-cut in maintaining their body figures or weight by taking drugs that occassionaly have negative side effects on their lives. But going to gym is the answer to all problems relating to fitness with no side effects.

Gym, sauna, and massage are related and that is why all options are offered at the hotel. However, Emmanuel wonders why people go for sauna many times and he advises them to go for it for at least twice in a week, because going there every day the respiratory system opens which makes it easier for the germs to enter.

Rwanda has reduced poverty by 4.4 percent through the Local Government Social Protection Program (VUP) under Rwanda Local Development Support Fund (RLSDF).

The RLSDF was introduced in March 2008 with the aim of reducing extreme poverty in the country from 36.9 % to 23.4 % before the end of 2012.

Gatsinzi Justin, Deputy Director General for the social protection program says: “In the VUP program our poverty reduction strategy operates through three approaches which are public works , direct support and credit assistance”.

According to Gatsinzi, the program covers a wide network across the country with operations in 120 sectors: “In terms of direct support we have so far given more than Frw 2.7 billion to 44, 263 people living in extreme poverty in 90 sectors this year” says Gatsinzi.

He pointed out that those not living below the poverty line were given credit assistance that has made remarkable results. At the moment from 2010, 37,215 people were given credit worth Frw4.1 billion.

Gatsinzi also revealed that from the credit issued through VUP program, about 5,869 cows were purchased, while 17,433 houses built.

The credit scheme enabled the people to acquire farms totaling 10,495 and more 60,783 individuals were able to access community healthcare under RAMA medical scheme.

Gatsinzi further pointed out that dropout rates have significantly reduced and this shows that VUP is contributing to the education sector as well says Kayiza Fidele, Deputy Director General for local development in the RLSDF.

“VUP as a result of providing easier access to education is facilitating the implementation of the 12 year basic education scheme.” He stressed..

In the strategy of public works, more than 200,000 people were employed from 2010 until now and through their hard work 593km of road were constructed as well as 43 classrooms 88 bridges and 110 wells.

“The outcome of this program through the 90 sectors it has operated in has been tremendous through the socio economic benefits it has generated,” says Gatsinzi

Jabo Paul, Executive Secretary the western province provided his views on the impact that the program has had in the region.

“We live in an area of high economic potential, with fertile soils, possibility of fishing from lake Kivu and potential market from the boarder but despite this potential, the population is poor.

“However the introduction of VUP has helped raise awareness and skills among the population, 90% now have access to healthcare that increased from 30 per cent, the poor grass thatched houses -Nyakatsi have been eradicated” he explained adding that Agriculture has Vastly improved and 1060 people have now been employed through public works.

This development program is specifically within Rwanda’s long-term initiative- Vision 2020 and the global Millennium Development Goals that targets eradication poverty in all developing countries by 2015.

By: Igihe.com

Residents of Gasabo’s Ndera area are calling upon the government to provide them with more clean water and extending water supply in the area.

The call comes amid many suffering from waterborne diseases.

Residents can only access clean water weekly, yet those fetching from water fountains have to pay frw20 to frw5 which is unaffordable to the vulnerable.

In this respect, those that can’t fetch enough for the whole week have no choice but get unsafe water from nearby swamps contaminated with sewage.

The dwellers are worried with the lack of concern from authorities. Willy Ndizeye an official at Gasabo district acknowledged that the problem needed immediate attention.

“We’re aware of the problem that’s why we included extension water activities in the budget and I assure residents that the required infrastructure will be fixed soon,” Ndizeye said.

Despite comments by district officials, residents claim that they’ve been fed with similar hopeful remarks in the past and that it was time the authorities acted accordingly.

Business entities in the area are threatening to close due to lack of adequate water,learning institutions like Apred Ndera are among the affected.

A teacher from the high school attributed the problem to poor management of resources as well as ignorance from responsible personnel.

By: Supreetha Gubbala

RUBAVU—A five-day Rwanda government Pandemic Disaster Response Tabletop Exercise is taking place at Lake Serena Hotel in Gisenyi.

Officials from the United States African Command (AFRICOM) , Center for Disaster and Humanitarian Assistance in Medicine (CDHAM) and the Ministry of Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs (MIDIMAR) are gathered in Gisenyi western province to scale up partnership between foreign partners and MIDIMAR to enhance capacity of Rwanda’s disaster response, and test it’s aptitude on how to respond to disaster events.

“We are here because we all realize that the occurrence of devastating pandemic is not science fiction,” Minister of Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs Gen. Marcel Gatsinzi said in his opening remarks on behalf of Prime Minister who was unable to attend the event.

Gen. Gatsinzi refered to the 1918 influenza pandemic that in its three waves of destruction managed to kill 30-50 million people worldwide and continues to remind the world of possible pandemics.

Africa’s particular demon, along with the global scare of SARS in 2003 and H1N1 in 2009, was the outbreak of cholera throughout the latter have of the 1990s.

“Due to the potential speed of transmission and the far reaching effects that can be expected, waiting until a pandemic strikes can be disastrous for everyone.”

The Minister brought up difficult and interesting questions for the audience, that were aimed to be addressed at the conference.

“If we rely on police protection to maintain security normally, at what point do we call on our Militaries to ensure security? Communities, businesses and local authorities also need to be thinking about measures that can be taken in case schools or businesses need to be shut down for sometime,” he questioned.

The Minister’s remarks were followed by those of Deputy Chief of Mission of the US Embassy Anne Casper and the Senior Leader Representative Brigadier General Stayce Harris.

Casper emphasized on the role of the U.S. Government in this effort as a partnership, something key to ensuring that Rwanda does not become dependent upon foreign partners.

“ And let me stress the word ‘partnership’,” she told the audience, “ Those of us who have the privilege of living in Rwanda and working side-by-side with our counterparts everyday…are humbled by the gains you have made, the challenges you have overcome and the spirit of perseverance that emanates from the heart of every Rwandan.”

She concluded in Kinyarwanda stating, “Twese Hamwe, turabishoboye,” which means “Together, we can do it.”

Brigadier General Harris reiterated AFRICOM’s mandate in Rwanda as,“The importance of preparedness for a response, clear command and control in multi-jurisdictional disasters, and regional cooperation during a severe pandemic disaster.”

In interview with the press, AFRICOM advisor Erik Threet emphasized, “If you can practice it now, you can respond better to these kinds of situations.”

However, they also clarified they were not particularly emphasizing refugee situations, which also remains a part of MIDIMAR’s mandate.

About their role in this area, Threet said, “ It would provide the military to be more coordinated with UN organizations that are more responsible for refugee camps and if there is a need for the military police to do social dissenting, then they are practicing for it now.”

Reacting to weakness of Rwanda’s disaster response capacity at the moment, the representative responded, “Just like within any continent, it is the coordination aspect, who do you call, who does what. Moreover, many times, you do not get a chance to practice before disaster hits. I think coordination and communication are key challenges to any response to a disaster.”

Another vital issue for Rwanda in disaster situations and pandemics is a shortage of resources, and medical supplies.

When questioned as to how AFRICOM would aid with this, Threet told Igihe.com, “USAID, Project Prepare are here helping pursue other donors for the government to plan for resources to be provided in those situations.”
We would work first to see what their capabilities are here.

Brigadier General Harris, told igihe.com that AFRICOM looks to regional capabilities and collaboration, because when a pandemic hits, it knows no borders.

She mentioned that this tabletop workshop had already been conducted successfully in Kenya, Tanzania, and Benin.

The rest of the days events include planning for pandemics via the military expertise of national coordination.

Workshops will be lead by various regional leaders in the field including the National Disaster Operations Center, Abuja Nigerian Ministry of Defense, Uganda Peoples Defense Forces, UNOCHA African Union Liaison Office, WHO Kigali Office, and the Director of Disaster Management and Program Coordinator at MIDIMAR.

Aimed at improving Community policing and reducing crime rate,Rwanda National Police is holding a four-day training involving law enforcers and District Liaison officers to strengthen Police cooperation with the public.

The training will introduce participants to a new communication strategy adopted by Police as a means to deliver services effectively.

Addressing the trainees at police headquarters in Kacyiru, the Inspector General of Police Emmanuel Gasana insisted that they were accountable to the public, while the role of community liaison officers is to facilitate the accountability by acting as the bridge between the public and the Police.

“Your role is to bridge the gap and this seminar will help you to understand your job better as well as understanding the connection between the public and community liaison,” Gasana said.

He pointed out that trainees need to know how to gather information, data and report to decision-making authorities within National Police to enable Police to be accountable to public.

The role of media too was highlighted by urging police to collaborate with the press. Affirming the matter, Brig. Gen. Gasana stressed that anyone who does not use the media stands to lose.

“You are the mirrors of police and you should be characterized by integrity and honesty,” Gasana told police officers adding, “You are the ones to portray the positive image of the Police”.

This he stressed also means that police officers should not use their roles in corrupt ways but instead serve the interest of public without seeking favors.

The Police spokesperson Sup.Theos Badege said that after the four-day training, participants will be equipped with basic skills on story writing, photography and overall picture of what is required of them as public relations and community liaison officers

The Burundi Ombudsman has told Igihe.com that his team is in Rwanda to familiarize themselves with Rwanda’s success story in the fight against corruption.

In November 2010 the world bank recognised Rwanda government’s commitment to business reforms and the zero-tolerance approach to corruption making Rwanda a better place to do business each day.

In the same year, Rwanda was ranked sixth less corrupt country in Africa and 66th globally in the Transparency International’s global Corruption Perceptions Index 2010.

Globally, the other East African Community states – Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya and Burundi are ranked as 116th, 127th, 154th and 170th, respectively.

The Corruption Perception Index helps to highlight the propensity of domestic corruption and its damaging influence.

Exclusively speaking to Igihe.com, Donavine Niyongabire, the Cabinet Chief in the Burundi’s office of the Ombudsman said that Burundis anticipated target is Zero tolerance to corruption. This follows a pleadge by President Pierre Nkurunziza during recent presidential campaigns.

“In the previous presidential elections, our president talked about corruption saying it’s a major issue he will address during the next five years of his term”.

She explained that Burundi government will deal with corruption using the possible measures like other countries have used in sighting a good example of Rwanda.

The Corruption Perception index previously confined to Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, expanded to include Rwanda and Burundi in 2010.

According to the 2010 East African Bribery Index Burundi is on the top position with a corruption prevalence of 36.7%.

Uganda comes second with a corruption prevalence of 33%, while Kenya takes the third position after registering an improvement, by moving from a prevalence rate of 45% in 2009 to 31.9% this year.

Tanzania is fourth with a prevalence of 28.6% while Rwanda is the least corrupt country in the region with a corruption prevalence of 6.6%.

The East African Bribery Index is a governance tool developed to measure bribery levels in the private and public sectors in the region.

The survey was conducted among thousands of respondents selected through random household sampling across all the administrative provinces in the five countries between January and March 2010.

Banana plantation harvest in Rwanda is still very low yet the crop occupies the biggest arable land, the Minister of Agriculture Agnes Karibata has revealed.

“We face a challenge of productivity. The Banana plant occupies the biggest land area in Rwanda but many of these banana trees bear nothing- output per acre is very low,” She stressed.

The minister, however, pointed out that the problem of low productivity is not unique to Rwanda but prevalent to most tropical African countries and the constraints causing low productivity can only be solve through effective collaboration between the countries in the region.

She further emphasised that although banana plantations still serve a fundamental role in combating soil erosion, they still need to bear fruitful productivity.

In an international conference that bought together delegates from Burundi, Tanzania and DR Congo at Mubano Hotel over the weekend, participants, highlighted Bacterial wilt as an issue which the regional and local agriculturists should carry out adequate prevention measures.

Jean Pierre Busogora technical assistant in the Integrated Post Management (IPM) project funded under the Belgian BTC on his part, said farmers have complete lack of knowledge of the constraints such as tilt bacterial control, pest and other crop diseases that is killing their crop

He observed that Banana is a big crop, a major source of food for the population as well as a raw material for the brewery industry in Rwanda. “That is why we are trying to come up with the right measures for its improved production” he emphasised.

The three day conference recommended for introduction of improved banana genotypes, suitable implementation of integrated banana production methods, diversity of banana pests and diseases and promotion of appropriate methods and benefits of banana research for the farming community among many others.

The staff of Rwandan office of the ombudsman led by Dr.Tito Rutaremara have this morning led the newly elected Burundian Chief Ombudsman, Mohamed Rukara and other four delegates to Kigali Memorial site, Gisozi to pay tribute to the victims of the 1994 Rwandan genocide against the Tutsi.

Speaking to Igihe.com shortly after the visit, the Director of Cabinet, office of the ombudsman of Burundi, Donavine Niyongabire said: “Actually we know all that happened to Rwanda since it’s our immediate neighbour but it’s really sad about the history and we don’t wish any other nation across the world to experience what happened in Rwanda. We can say; never again to Rwandan genocide.”

The delegation is in Rwanda for a three-day study tour aimed at obtaining better information on dealing with injustices and ensuring sustainable development back in Burundi.

“Since the Rwanda’s office of the Ombudsman is older and has better experience in dealing with injustices, we want to learn from them and do better when we return back home,” Niyongabire said.

The group will also pay a call courtesy to MINALOC, Rwandan Chambers of Deputies and Senators, Rwanda Initiative for Sustainable Development (RISD) and officials in the Rwandan office of the Ombudsman.

The visit will end with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen ties between the two institutions in order to ensure justice and promote development in the two countries.