VILLAGE URUGWIRO-The outgoing UNICEF Resident Representative, Dr. Joseph Foumbi paid a courtesy call on President Paul Kagame at Village Urugwiro, to bid him farewell.

Foumbi, who has been at the helm for the last four and half years, said that during his tenure, UNICEF has significantly supported various sectors in the country.

Speaking to reporters after meeting the Head of State, Foumbi hailed Rwanda’s progress towards achieving Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s).

"I was so grateful to spend four and half years in this beautiful country to witness the visionary leadership under President Paul Kagame that has transformed Rwanda,” he said.

Foumbi noted that during his mandate, UNICEF’s intervention specialized in health, education, children development and family promotion.

"In the area of education, we were able to influence government policy by proposing a new model of education called "child friendly schools” that assures every child an environment that is physically safe, emotionally secure and psychologically enabling,” he noted.

He mentioned that UNICEF has promoted the establishment National Early Childhood Development policies in Rwanda that lay out concrete commitments and guidelines for young children’s survival, development and protection.

He also cited that during his term, Rapid SMS Technology was introduced in the country and since then, it has saved the lives of mothers and new born babies at the community level.

Through this application, the Ministry of Health is able to track and respond to pregnancy related complications.

The Minister of Gender and Family Promotion, Aloisea Inyumba, told reporters that President Kagame commended Foumbi for his role in implementing UNICEF activities in Rwanda.

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