Minister Gashumba tips police medics on proper management of Isange centres

The Minister of Health, Dr. Diane Gashumba has urged Rwanda National Police (RNP) medical staff to aim for professional medical services and ensure proper management of Isange One Stop centres.

Sunday, January 21, 2018
Some of the members of the RNP medical component in a group photo

The Minister of Health, Dr. Diane Gashumba has urged Rwanda National Police (RNP) medical staff to aim for professional medical services and ensure proper management of Isange One Stop centres.

The Minister was speaking on Sunday while presiding over the opening of a one-day retreat of about 70 members of the RNP medical component, held at the force’s General Headquarters in Kacyiru.

Present was also the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Emmanuel K. Gasana.

"Health is a vital issue in security and development; delay in attending to a patient can lead to loss of life and spread of infectious disease,” Minister Gashumba said.

She urged them to always display exemplary services and discipline, but emphasized on "ownership in proper management and service delivery at Isange One Stop centres.”

RNP with the support from other partners including the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion, runs 44 Isange centres across the country.

Isange provides free medical, legal and psycho-socio as well as aftercare services to victims of gender violence and child abuse.

"The ministry will continue to work with RNP and support its health development efforts for the healthy and betterment of Rwandans,” she said.

IGP Gasana challenged them to align their services with their mission, understand and efficiently translate their responsibilities.

He appealed to them to be defined by professional ethics and health standards including confidentiality, hygiene and sanitation, and evidence protection.

The Police Chief also urged them to develop an operation kit for quick service delivery.

The retreat discussed various issued related to health including prevention and response to medical areas in RNP; hygiene and sanitation, non-communicable and sexual transmitted diseases.

Others include first aid, drug abuse and alcoholism as well the action plan of the RNP medical component.

According to Commissioner of Police (CP) Dr. Daniel Nyamwasa, the retreat was meant to increase awareness of the officers on risk assessment, early problem detection, timely reporting and timely response.

The RNP medical personnel are also part of the deployment in peace support operations.