A nun has been taken into custody for allegedly failing to provide an ambulance to transport a pregnant mother in distress, resulting in the death of her baby. Sister Vestine Twizeyimana, the Director of Kivumu Health Center, was arrested on April 12 on charges of neglecting to assist a person in danger. Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) Spokesperson, Thierry Murangira said Sister Twizeyimana, a health professional, failed to make an ambulance from her health center available despite receiving multiple calls for assistance from various individuals at Bukanda health center. The ambulance was meant to transport the mother to Gisenyi Hospital for help, but her failure to provide the ambulance led to the death of the baby, Murangira said. The incident occurred on April 10 in Rutsiro District, Nyabirasi sector. The suspect is currently in custody at Kivumu RIB station while her dossier is being prepared for prosecution. Murangira further said that neglecting to rescue a person in danger, and failing to provide assistance when one is in a position to do so and when there is no risk involved, is unacceptable for anyone in a leadership position. “The health services personnel certainly deserve to avail themselves because any delay in care can have far-reaching consequences,” Murangira added. Under the law, anyone who fails to assist or seek assistance for a person in danger while in a position to do so, and when there is no risk involved, commits an offense. Upon conviction, the suspect is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than one year and not more than three years, and a fine of not less than Rwf 300,000 and not more than Rwf500,000.
