Musanze–Over 80 children living with various physical and psychological disabilities at St. Vincent Catholic Rehabilitation Centre in Musanze District, need medical treatment, officials have said. The centre has 21 children with speech and hearing disabilities while others are physically handicapped. According to Sister Catherine Bangamwabo, who is responsible for the centre, most of the children’s disabilities can be treated and need special care and support. “They had been abandoned by their parents; they were left to die because they were viewed as useless. This is a bad mentality, it is the reason we decided to bring them here to rehabilitate them,’’ Bangamwabo said. When The New Times visited the facility, it was found to be noisy and rather chaotic. Most of the children aged between 10 and 20 were struggling to move around as most did not have wheel chairs, while other young children were crying out loudly. Sister Bangamwabo called upon the government to intervene by availing specialists to deal what she termed as an overwhelming situation at the centre, adding that the centre also needed food for its recipients. The centre also has 52 people suffering from elephantiasis who are known to be lacking quality treatment, 32 orphans and poor people living with HIV/Aids. Sister Bangamwabo says that they have written to the local district authorities several times, requesting for support , especially food aid, but so far the district leaders are yet to respond to their distress call. The centre which opened early this year, has 13 workers, who carry out daily activities, including counselling, cleaning, and educational support. bonny.mukombozi@newtimes.co.rw
