As part of the activities in gearing up to the celebration of the 22nd anniversary for the liberation of the country, Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF) have announced plans to offer free treatment to over 10,000 Rwandans suffering from different ailments.
The treatment will be offered during the Special Army Week that entails series of outreach activities by the armed forces in a week leading to the July 4th Liberation Day, a day on which the RPF Inkotanyi armed wing, the RPA, stopped the Genocide and liberated the nation.
The Liberation 22 Army Week activities kicked off on 28 June 2016 with the official launching of the medical outreach programme to be conducted in Bugesera District.
From 27 June to 04 July 2016 military medical personnel including specialists, from Rwanda Military Hospital, will be offering free of charge medical services that will see about 10,000 people treated.
The launching ceremony of the medical camp was presided over by the 1st Division Commander, Brig Gen Dr Ephrem Rurangwa at Nyamata Hospital. Other officials who attended included Bugesera District Mayor, Emmanuel Nsanzumuhire and the Rwanda Military Hospital Commandant, Brig Gen Emmanuel Ndahiro.
In his remarks, Brig Gen Rurangwa said that the medical outreach is an opportunity for the people in Bugesera to benefit from medical services brought to them by medical specialists from Rwanda Military Hospital.
“For those who may not know, even during the liberation struggle and the campaign against Genocide, besides our injured comrades, most of these military medical doctors used regularly treat civilians populations suffering from different diseases”, Brig Gen Rurangwa highlighted.
Mayor Emmanuel Nsanzumuhire said that local community in Bugesera will benefit a lot from the medical outreach, for they will be attended by experienced doctors.
“Special cases that required patients to get transfers to Kigali and somewhere else will be treated here. It is a big advantage for us”, he said. The Mayor pledged to support the ongoing Army Week activities. He also thanked the RDF for liberating the country and contributing to its reconstruction after the 1994 genocide against Tutsi.
During the ongoing medical outreach in Bugesera, medical services that shall be offered include a variety of specialties including ophthalmology, dermatology, urology, orthopedics, ENT, dental Care, gynecology, pediatrics, cardiology just to name a few.
Speaking on behalf of the patients, Rita Kagoyire thanked Rwanda Defence Force for taking care of citizens by offering medical services beyond their ordinary mission of protecting the country. “We value this love for us and really appreciate all your efforts in making Rwanda a prosperous nation”, she said.