Interpeace , an international organization that prevents violence and builds lasting peace, has donated 17 motorcycles to improve mental health service delivery at the community level in Bugesera District. Interpeace has 27 years of experience working in Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Europe and Latin America. Frank Kayitare, Interpeace Country Representative in Rwanda and Interpeaces Great Lakes Regional Representative said that the psychosocial impact of the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda is still felt by many across the country to-date and therefore tackling mental health issues is paramount despite the fact that Rwandan mental health sector has made notable advances during the last two decades. Motorcycles are part of Reinforcing community capacity for social cohesion through societal trauma healing in Bugesera District’’ « We aim to build sustainable peace through unity and reconciliation, » he said. He said that providing care to everyone who requires psychiatric aid is still a challenge due to capacity constraints and the reluctance of the population to take up mental health services. The 17 motorcycles distributed on Friday August 20, to improve mental health service delivery are part of efforts to support Rwanda government efforts to decentralize mental health care in Rwanda under the Interpeace project dubbed “Reinforcing community capacity for social cohesion through societal trauma healing in Bugesera District’’ . He said 15 of these motorcycles will go to the 15 Health Centers while one will go to Bugesera Prison for use by its health center, and One will remain at the District to support in monitoring the use and impact of this support by the health centers across the District. Eastern Province Governor Emmanuel Gasana, said that the project is contributing to mental health improvement policy in Rwanda This support is expected to enable mental health fessionals conduct more regular randomized clinical trial processes, scale up home-based care to mental health patients, and conduct regular community screening and awareness campaigns on mental health in a sustainable way. He said the transport facilitation will guarantee more sustainable service provision, provide more value for money, and contribute to the government’s plan to scale up reliable primary health care for the population, » he said. « We are working with the government and other partners to promote social cohesion. And this requires that we contribute to healing societal trauma and livelihood improvement for the community. Interpeace donated 17 motorcycles to improve mental health service delivery in Bugesera district For instance we are also supporting 90 youth in Bugesera district with TVET skills. After graduation, they will form cooperatives and get kits to set up an enterprise. There are also projects for people in unity and reconciliation villages to generate income from agricultural activities, basket weaving and others » he said. The project has developed several group-based, resilience-oriented treatment protocols that could be added to the toolkit of mental health practitioners in Rwanda. « By November this year, we will have also availed a mobile clinic to help enhance mental health service delivery. It will be carrying out screening, assess mental health issues for support and treatment, » he said. He said the programme will be scaled up to more five districts namely Ngoma, Nyagatare, Nyabihu, Musanze and Nyamagabe. Lluis Navarro, Head of Cooperation, EU. Delegation to Rwanda that funded the project « Reinforcing community capacity for social cohesion through societal trauma healing » said that they have committed to support home-grown solutions by Rwanda to solve different issues including trauma caused by 1994 genocide against the Tutsi. « We support a holistic approach for social cohesion, sustainable peace and livelihoods. The motorcycles will improve service delivery to the population to address issues of mental health by enabling workers to reach out to the community suffering from depression , » he said. He added the mobility will also help to raise awareness about mental health and sensitize people how to get about it. The Eastern Province Governor Emmanuel Gasana, said that the project is contributing to mental health improvement policy in Rwanda. « We have a task to implement the mental health policy which requires everyones efforts. With the country that faced 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, mental health is still an issue of concern, » he said adding other sources of mental health issues such as drug abuse, domestic violence, family conflicts and others should be tackled. He said that resources have to be mobilized with partners to scale up the programme in the whole province. Beneficiaries speak out Leonard Nkeragutabara, the head of Mwogo health centre said the provided motorcycles from Interpeace will help to reach out to more people in the community. « Some people with mental health issues face stigma. They do not come to the hospital for support. The motorcycles will help to reach out to them and support them. Our staff will also gain skills to identify such people and counsel and advise them, » he said. Sœur Perpetue Mukamabano, the Head of Ruhuha health centre said : « The motorcycle we got from Interpeace will enhance service delivery to the community especially those with mental health issues. For example we have over 180 patients with mental health issues we have been treating. The motorcycles will help to reach more who are in the community. » Dr. Yvonne Kayiteshonga, the Manager of the Mental Health Division at Rwanda Biomedical Centre ( RBC) said that mental health issues are still an issue that requires more efforts for improvement. « The Interpeace project was timely because depression is affecting many people. Depression is characterised by loneliness, lack of sleep, thoughts that life is no longer needed, thoughts of suicide among others, » she said. She said the motorcycles to health centres will mobilize the community to detect their mental status and seek support at the health centres. She noted that one of 10 people and particulary 4 out of 10 genocide survivirs have depression. « Three percent of Rwandans have depression and 28 percent of genocide survivors have depression. Research has revealed that only five percent of people go for consultation to get support. This has to change under joint efforts, » she said.
