Healthcare
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Rwanda
The
absence of a health centre had long posed a significant challenge to the
residents of the Shagasha Sector, where pregnant women and the sick had to
endure arduous journeys to distant health facilities, often resulting in
delayed or missed medical care. This harsh reality changed when Enabel, the
Belgian development agency, partnered with the Rwanda Biomedical Centre and
Rusizi District to improve healthcare access for this underserved community.
Godberthe
Icyimpaye, a 30-year-old resident of Shagasha village, recalls the difficult
past: "Before having this health centre nearby, we were struggling to
access healthcare services. We had to travel to Gihundwe or to Kadashya, and
each trip costed us money for tickets, and when it rained, the journey became
even more difficult."
The
lack of a health facility in the area meant dangerous journeys for expectant
mothers, risking both their lives and those of their unborn children. "A
pregnant woman could give birth on the way, or she would endure four hours of
long stretches on foot while weak, risking the lives of both mother and
baby," laments Icyimpaye.
Recognising
this pressing need, Enabel intervened by supporting the construction and
Equipment of the Shagasha Health Centre. This initiative aimed to enhance early
detection of pregnancy-related risks and complications, ultimately increasing
healthcare access for the population of Shagasha—the only sector in Rusizi
District without a health centreat the time.
The
impact of this Belgium-Rwanda bilateral programme 2019-2024 in the health
sector has been profound. Icyimpaye shared, "Things are looking up now.
There haven't been any maternal deaths during childbirth in our community.
Everyday health needs are met without exhausting journeys. We receive timely
care, and visiting loved ones hospitalised here is now hassle-free."
The
partnership has also resulted in the provision of an ambulance to a health
centre that did not have one, and enhancement of adolescent sexual and
reproductive health services and initiatives to combat drug addiction among
youth, alongside expanding family planning uptake.
Rusizi
District is pleased with its partnership with Enabel, which has led to
significant achievements in the health sector. These accomplishments include
but not limited to the renovation and construction of maternity wards and
operating rooms in hospitals, as well as the refurbishment and equipping of
health posts and Isange One Stop Centres for GBV case management. Additionally,
the provision of ultrasound machines to all health centres has reduced
unnecessary transfers of pregnant women to hospitals.
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