Igihe

Tag: HomeNews

  • Prime Minister Cautions Doctors

    The Prime Minister Pierre Damien Habumuremyi has cautioned doctors over poor service delivery and customer care citing poor dressing code,bad language, negative attitude at work and general poor management as the major vices that need to be urgently rectified within the Health sector.

    In a one day meeting that took place at Lemigo Hotel this Friday, Habumuremyi said that the Health sector is sensitive where proper service delivery and customer care must be paramount.

    While Doctors looked on quietly in disbelief, the Prime Minister introduced the matter that they had been called for, only to find that it was their poor way of service to innocent and vulnerable citizens.

    “Your domain is very sensitive that even the smallest issue can destabilize all citizens and affect other sectors. All health facilities should be where citizens should go and get hope of healing,” Habumuremyi said.

    Habumurenyi said that the Doctors’ code of ethics is now at stake due to continued poor services saying that he has received accumulated messages from citizens complaining about poor treatment from doctors including sexual harassment.

    “We know you have lots of challenges, dealing with people from those remote areas is not easy despite lack of some facilities. One health center we visited did not have water but it is among the best health centers offering good services,” Habumuremyi said.

    “Being unable to have necessary requirements does not permit let say poor hygiene. You can be poor but you can be listed among the most hygienic persons in the community,” Habumurenyi cautioned.

    He said proper service delivery and customer care are national interests where all sectors are requested to improve.

    Habumurenyi said he had previously toured and talked with professionals from banking sector and Hotels to see how best it can be achieved.

    Habumuremyi said that some doctors and nurses have poor attitude at work as well as poor dressing codes where he highlighted King Faisal Hospital a major referral Hospital in the country.

    “I met one specialist at King Faisal Hospital wearing Jeans and a casual shirt and snickers, such a dressing code is unacceptable remember you are role model in the society, that puts a threat on your reputation,”He said.

    Referring to Rwanda Development Board current survey on service delivery, prime minister said that it was indicated that among four tourists that come in Rwanda only one admit that s/he has recieved good services.

    Habumuremyi implored the heads of District hospitals in the country and other relevant medical practitioners to come up with a checklist of standards that will hike service delivery and customer care in the medical fraternity.

    The Prime Minister was lauded by Health Minister Dr. Agnes Binagwaho while saying that the problem is not that it so much alarming in the health sector, it is rather the same or even less but in health sector people needing services are very vulnerable.

    “We have a national corporate campaign aimed at improving service delivery and customer care to improve the country’s image across all sectors, it is not only in health sector,” Binagwaho said.

    “Doctors and nurses are using poor language when attending to patients. Even in our five star accredited hospital King Faisal they have poor language while attending to patients, even delays and we have cases where some people have opted for medical services out of the country, thats money taken away so our hospitals cannot grow,” Binagwaho added.

    Binagwaho said that the solution must come from personnel in the sector adding that even though some challenges are beyond their capabilities.

    In the recent grenade attacks ambulances on University Hospital CHUK and Kibagabaga District hospital lacked a driver which is one of the sign of poor management that results into poor service delivery and customer care.

    ENDS

  • Norway to Deport Genocide Suspect

    The Norway Supreme court has ruled to repatriate Charles Bandora, a fugitive Rwandan businessman suspected of complicity in 1994 Tutsi Genocide.

    Rwanda’s Alain Mukuralinda also a national prosecutor appreciated the decision saying it is one of the fulfillments of ICTR decisions, Swedish and European court of Human rights. “It’s a good thing. It shows that all countries believe Rwandan justice is able to equitably try a person.

    He added that a person has to be tried in the place where he committed a crime; if not it can be done where he was arrested. “The most necessary is that a person is sued accurately regarding the law,” Mukuralinda said.

    Friends of Bandora and militants of Human Rights have organised strikes on 4th February 2012 before the Norway embassy in Bruxelles to show disapproval against the decision.

    They want Norway to send Bandora to another country for they don’t trust the justice of Rwanda.

    The family of Bandora says that all the accusations attributed to him are not real, “the influence and responsibilities he is said to have had are a kind of hyperbole.”

    Charles Bandora was born in former Gikongoro. He is accused of having participated in the killings that took place at Ruhuha-Bugesera, South East of Rwanda and having plundered properties of the citizens.

    He was one of the richest in Bugesera region, he later became MRND president in Ngenda which he ceded to concentrate himself on his commercial activities he was doing in Ruhuha trading center and in Kicukiro district of Kigali city.

  • Hollywood Honors Rwanda Film Festival

    Rwanda’s only prestigious film festival will be honored at this year’s African film festival in Hollywood. The country’s young film festival begun almost seven years ago to promote Rwanda’s cinema and film industry.

    The event will be held in Hollywood at the prestigious Pan African Film festivals on February 9th where Rwanda and other countries from all over the world will also be honored for their work.

    This event is expected to be attended by internationally rich and famous stars many of Africa’s great talents. Mr. Eric Kabera has been nominated for the African Channel Vision Award.

    IGIHE.com exclusively talked to Eric Kabera the president of the Rwanda Film Festival began his career at a young age where he found his for cinematography.

    Kabera is also a screen writer and director, his work for films like ‘100 days’ depicts the story of the Rwandan genocide of 1994, and Africa United a sweet family movie depicting many of the challenges Africa faces including; AIDS, prostitution and child abuse.

    He told IGIHE.com about what this recognition means–“This award doesn’t only go to me but rather its dedicated to Rwanda, for the whole country has helped in supporting the film industry in Rwanda, this award will give Rwanda the recognition it deserves”.

    The Rwandan film festival has so far screened over 100 movies around the globe in countries like Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Israel, United States and Belgium among others. The Journey has been long from having no film industry to being honored at one of Africa’s biggest film awards in over just a few years.

    This year’s Rwandan film festival which will begin in July 2012 has two parts; the ‘hillywood’ which will consist of movies locally made and the second is the ‘Kigali festival’ which will consist of showing movies from around the world.

    Kabera told IGIHE.com that participants have already started submitting their work. By the end of July this year a few winners will be selected whose films, short stories and screenplays will be shown around Rwanda throughout the festival.

    “This is a new and exciting era for Rwanda” says Kabera, “the film industry will be able to bring more to its contribution to the development and growth of Rwanda’s private sector”.

  • Kayirebwa to Perform Tonight For Cultural Growth

    Tonight at 6pm, sounds of drums, stamping feet, cheering crowds and the enchanting voice of Rwandan’s beloved Cecile Kayirebwa will be heard at Green Hills Academy in Nyarutarama, behind the Mtn center.

    Cecil Kayirebwa that was in the country last year had come to teach the children from different schools from various regions across Rwanda about the importance of the preservation of our culture through teaching the children the traditional intore dances as well as lessons on Rwandan history.

    Kayirebwa has now returned home once again to continue her campaign for building and preserving the Rwandan culture, which begins with her holding tonight’s performance that will raise money for development of arts and culture in Rwanda.

    Tonight’s concert will not be about Cecil Kayirebwa alone, no, she will be performing some of most popular songs such as ‘None Twaza’, ‘Umunezero’ and many more with students performing alongside her. The scene will be a small and intimate gathering for lovers of cultural music and dancing.

    IGIHE.com went to the school to talk to some of the students excited about performing with one of Rwanda’s great legends.

    “We think it is a great way to keep children interested in their heritage as well as teach us more about our culture which could be lost to us because many kids today are more into Hip Hop and Rnb”.

    Our reporter also spoke to Green Hills Marketing Manager Mrs. Lucy whom told Igihe.com that this event has received a lot of attention and Tickets have already been sold out.

    She told us that apart from the parents of the students and fans of Cecil Kayirebwa, some prominent officials such as……. will be attending the event.

    Tonight’s concert which aims at proving how the preservation of culture in our children is extremely important will be showcased as students will be showing off their skills of traditional dancing to traditional Kinyarwanda songs Cecil will be singing herself, this night will be a memorable one for all who not only love Cecil Kayirebwa but all those who love to revel in their heritage and cultural history.

  • He sings Oldies For a Living

    musician.jpg
    Dauphin Ayabateranya is an upcoming music artist advising the public not to be overtaken by modern music and rather show some passion on local oldies songs since they inspire them to reflect back to the country’s history.

    Ayabateranya is getting popular in the city due to his live shows which he tries to blend with modern songs in order to capture the attention of younger audience.

    “I won’t tell you the exact amount of money I make in a week but it exceeds US$100, I’m also motivated by the growing interest from my fans towards oldies, this has energized me to perform almost thrice in a week in various hotels including Alpha Palace Hotel, Kigali City Tower amongst other joints,” he remarked.

    He says he receives from performances a reasonable amount of money.
    Ayabateranya is a bass guitarist, performs together with four friends. He says he is inspired by some of the past renowned musicians like Makanyaga and Masabo. He started singing in 1991 but later stopped due to lack of finances.

    His favorite song is ‘Karimi ka Shyari’ with a message about gossipers and their negative impact in society.

  • Man With Fake Money Arrested

    Nyagatare district police has arrested a man early this week in possession of counterfeit money worth Frw 350,000.

    According to a police statement, Emmanuel Nsengiyumva was apprehended by local defense and residents when he attempted to buy airtime using Frw 5,000 fake note. They took the suspect to Nyagatare Police station.

    Police sources in the area say, upon receiving a search warrant, police searched the suspect’s house in Nyamiyaga cell, Musheri sector and found more forged money and a scanner that he used to make the fake money.

    Nsengiyumva who denied any wrong doing claimed that he was given the money by one Byaruhanga, a Ugandan national. He added that he had bought the scanner from an Indian trader that he intended to use in a photo studio he was soon to establish.

    Police Spokesperson Superintendent Theos Badege cautioned against counterfeit activities saying they are criminal and punishable by law.

    He called on citizens to help security organs in fighting such illegal business saying that counterfeit is dangerous to the country’s economy and also affects household income.

    “Once counterfeit money gets into the monetary system of a country, it leads to inflation thus affecting the country’s economy”, Supt Badege added.

    Rwanda National Police calls on Rwandans to shun such illegal activities and focus on earning money using honest means.

  • UN Accused of Forceful Repatriation of Rwandan Refugees

    The head of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Zambia has denied accusations that her organization is forcing Rwandan refugees to return to their country.

    “The UN agency can never be involved in “forced return but does facilitate voluntary repatriation of refugees,”said Joyce Mends-Cole.

    The Rwandan refugees recently staged a peaceful demonstration in which they accused the UNHCR of working together with the Zambian and Rwandan governments to force them to return to their country under the cessation clause. They argued that it is still not safe to return to their country.

    In a statement released on Thursday, UNHCR Representative in Zambia Joyce Mends-Cole said it is not true that the organization is conniving with the two governments to have Rwandan refugees be taken back to their country.

    Only those who fled the country as a result of the violence that erupted between 1959 and 1994 in that country will have their refugee status revoked, the official added.

    “UNHCR is recommending countries of asylum, including Zambia, to invoke the ‘ceased circumstances cessation clause’ in respect of Rwandan refugees who fled their country of origin between 1959 and Dec. 31, 1998, latest by June 30, 2013,” she said.

    “In Zambia, Rwandan refugees who feel that it is not safe for them to return to Rwanda were invited last year to submit individual applications for exemption from cessation. The majority of Rwandans registered as refugees in Zambia applied for exemption, and most of these applications are still in the process of being reviewed and determined,” she added.

    As of Dec. 31, 2011, Zambia was hosting 4, 659 refugees at two of its refugees camps Mayukwayukwa and Meheba in the western part of the country.

  • New Reforms in Medical Transfers Announced

    The permanent secretary in the Health Ministry has announced new reforms in service delivery in health centers and hospitals including medical transfers to take effect very soon.

    Dr. Uzziel Ndagijimana told IGIHE.com that the general public has expressed concerns that patients on local health insurance(mituelle) are most of the time ignored and despised at several health centers.

    “A patient will no longer get a transfer paper only for sometimes he finds a doctor busy, in meeting and so on, but the transfer provider has to find a proper time, informs a doctor to whom he sends a patient and make sure a patient will find the doctor aware of all his problems.”

    Ndagijimana added that a nurse or doctor will get his prime according to his performance at work.

    He said, “Suggestion boxes have been established in health centers and hospitals; patients will put out their problems and ideas through those boxes.”

    He added that to prevent treachery in report by physicians, the key will be kept by an agent in charge of social affairs in sector or district in which the health institution is located.

    This might be one of the solutions to many people who have been facing problems once they are transferred from a health center to a hospital or a hospital to another hospital.

  • EAC Polythene Materials Control Bill Passed

    Rwanda’s Hon. Patricia Hajabakiga a law maker at the East African Community Legistilative assembly deserves a pat of her back for moving a Bill on polythene materials control for adoption in all five member states of the regional grouping.
    EAC's Hon. Patricia Hajabakiga (L) talks to Hon Mike Sebalu
    The EAC Polythene Materials Control Bill, 2011 passed in the House late yesterday evening. The Bill pushes closer to an Act of the Community should the EAC Heads of State assent to the same.

    The Bill aims at providing a legal framework for the preservation of a clean and healthy environment through the prohibition of manufacturing, sale, importation and use of polythene materials.

    Justifying the move to have the regional law in place, Hon Hajabakiga stated that the Bill is intended to control the use of polythenes while advocating the total ban of plastics.

    Hajabakiga also notes several dangers of plastics and polythene materials notably soil degradation through burning of wastes, harmful emissions of toxics and the endangering of human and animal lives.

    She further indicates that while plastics can be burned, they emit chemicals and the corresponding photo-degradation has consequential impact on human and infrastructure.

    Countries such as Bangladesh, Botswana, Israel, Rwanda and France among others have since enacted a similar law, Hon Hajabakiga said.

    The Chairperson of the Agriculture, Tourism and Natural Resources Committee, Hon Safina Kwekwe whose Committee the Assembly mandated to look through the Bill, remarked that the Committee had met various stakeholders in the Partner States during the public hearings.

    The meetings were called to create awareness of plastics and visit plastic manufacturers with a view to interfacing with them and suggesting for improvements on the Bill.

    In its report, the Committee states that Rwanda which has an existing law in place supported the Bill while requesting for inclusion of a clause on alternatives to polythene materials as well as an incentive programme.

    Meanwhile, the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) meeting in Kampala also passed key amendments to the Inter-University Council for East Africa Act, giving the body powers to oversee accreditation of tertiary institutions in the region.

    Assembly members overruled objections from the council of ministers that had expressed reservations about the amendments which among others, will grant institutions better regional mobility, only to get accreditation from the council to operate regionally instead of multiple applications to individual countries.

    Generally, The law will promote, modernise and harmonise EAC university curricula.

  • Malaria is Twice Deadly–Report

    mosquito_sick.jpg
    Global efforts to eliminate malaria are highly unlikely by the UN target date of 2015 following new research based on modern techniques that has revealed that Malaria actually kills twice as previously assumed for thirty years.

    The new figure shows that malaria kills 1.2million people annually including babies,older children and adults. This research disqualifies an assumption in data held for 30years about the world’s deadly diseases.

    In Africa the contribution of malaria to children’s deaths is higher than had been thought, causing 24% of their deaths in 2008 and not 16% as found by a report by Black and colleagues, whose methodology was used in the World Malaria Report.

    The findings from the research have been published today (Friday) reanalysing 30 years of data on Malaria using new techniques.

    Children die most. However, a fifth are among those aged 15. 49, 9% are among 50- to 69-year-olds. 6% are in people over 70. A third of all deaths are in adults. In countries outside sub-Saharan Africa, more than 40% of deaths were in adults.

    This research also raises urgent questions about the future of the troubled Global Fund to Fight Aids, TB and Malaria, which has provided the money for most of the tools to combat the disease in Africa, such as insecticide-impregnated bed nets and new drugs. The fund is in financial crisis and has had to cancel its next grant-making round.

    According to the guardian of UK, the esearch comes from the highly respected Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), based in Seattle, and is published in the Lancet medical journal.

    Dr Christopher Murray and colleagues have systematically collected data on deaths from all over the world over a 30-year period, from 1980 to 2010, using new methodologies and inventive ways of measuring mortality in countries where deaths are not conventionally recorded.

    The work on malaria is part of a much bigger project which has already led to new estimates of the death rates of women in childbirth and pregnancy and from breast and cervical cancer.

    Their figure of 1.2 million deaths for 2010 is nearly double the 655,000 estimated in last year’s World Malaria Report.

    The good news is that they have confirmed the downward trend that the World Health Organisation’s report showed, as a result of efforts by donors, aid organisations and governments to tackle the disease.

    The bad news is that the decline comes from a much higher peak – deaths hit 1.8 million in 2004, they say. That means the interventions such as better treatment and bed nets are working, but there is much further to go than everybody had assumed.

    The study demolishes conventional thinking on malaria – that almost all the deaths are in babies and small children under the age of five. The study found that 42% were in older children and adults.

    “You learn in medical school that people exposed to malaria as children develop immunity and rarely die from malaria as adults,” said Murray, IHME director and the study’s lead author. “What we have found in hospital records, death records, surveys and other sources shows that just is not the case.”