Contingent of Rwanda Defence Forces medical team on arrival from Peacekeeping mission in Central Africa Republic
Rwanda Defence Force contingent of medical practitioners has returned from Central Africa Republic where they had deployed under the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission(Minusca).
The 70-member medical team including; surgeons, medical doctors and nurses arrived in Kigali this afternoon after a successful year-long operation in CAR. A similar team has also been sent to CAR in a rotation.
Last year, the UN tasked Rwanda to build a level 2 hospital- an equivalent of district hospital to serve the population and over 13,000 peacekeepers in Bria, CAR.
In Rwanda, a district hospital offers minimum package of services including; inpatient/outpatient services, surgery, laboratory, gynecology obstetrics and radiology.
According to Lt.Col. Dr. Mukimbili Edmond, after completing the hospital, the Rwandan medical team embarked on tough work of treating diseases.
“We experienced many cases of malaria due to the long drought in the country, thus, we combined treatment and prevention,” he said.
“We introduced community work-Umuganda in the CAR community, to help them clear the bush around homes among other good practices aimed at fighting mosquito breeding,” Lt.Col. Dr. Mukimbili.
While on duty in Central Africa Republic, the medical team treated 2,600 patients, of whom 30% had bone diseases requiring surgery in many instances.
The work also included immunization against polio, measles and Tuberculosis, and several health training to fellow medical personnel from Zambia, Morocco and Sri Lanka.
To facilitate quick response, RDF introduced drones that carry medicines to remote areas.
Rwanda provides the personnel, equipment and medication to the hospital.
In a welcome note, Brig. Gen Murari Chris told the team; “The country is proud of you because you did a great job. However, it is not time to relax because the country still needs your efforts to achieve the desired wellbeing of all Rwandans.”
Rwanda has around 800 peace keepers in CAR UN peacekeeping mission and 6,000 overall serving across the world.
The pioneer medical practitioners prepared ground for construction of Level 2 UN Hospital.
