The Ministry of Health on Thursday, October 13 received a donation of 200 wheelchairs from the United Arabs Emirates embassy in Rwanda. The handover ceremony was held at Rilima Specialized Orthopedic hospital in Bugesera district in the presence of The Minister of Health, Dr. Daniel Ngamije and UAE ambassador to Rwanda, Hazza Alqahtani. Among 200 wheelchairs donated, 49 were immediately given to people with disabilities, whereas others were dedicated to other orthopedic hospitals (HVP Gatagara, Inkurunziza and Rilima among others). Minister Daniel Ngamije commended the UAE embassy in Rwanda for the assistance given to people with disabilities. He also reiterated Rwanda’s commitment to continuous collaboration to improve the lives of people with disabilities. “People with disabilities have been taken into consideration in the National Strategy for Transformation 1and the fourth Health Sector Strategic Plan (HSSP 4) where disability has been included in all programs as a cross cutting areas,” he noted. Furthermore, he added, the Ministry of Health prioritizes strengthening early detection, intervention, and rehabilitation of People with Disabilities and to ensure availability and affordability of assistive devices and ensure that specialized medical services are available countrywide. On his side, the Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates in Rwanda, Hazza Alqahtani, reiterated his country’s support to wellness of the Rwandan population. “It is in our heritage to provide assistance and emergency relief to regions affected with diseases and disasters as our role to contribute to the sustainable development and social welfare of all humankind.” The UAE top diplomat in Rwanda also revealed that in their country, they have changed the name of people with disabilities to people with determination because they recognize their role in the development of the country. The Ministry of Health has initiated several interventions to facilitate people with disabilities through establishing Orthopedic workshops in different health facilities including the University Teaching Hospital of Kigali (CHUK), The University Teaching Hospital of Butare (CHUB), Rilima Orthopedic Hospital, Ruhengeri hospital, Gihundwe Hospital and Gahini rehabilitation Center among others. Rwanda has made investments in supporting rehabilitation centers and provides physical and functional rehabilitation services, as well as promoting education and socio-economic reintegration of persons with disabilities and providing human resource through formal and informal training to attain the unmet gap including assistant physiotherapists, prosthetics and orthotics technicians.
