The Rwandan Red Cross (RRC) is considered to be very close to the population during this covid-19 health crisis. Opinion is identical between the health authorities and the decentralized government at the Rubavu district level.
The RRC has just handed over 324 soaps, 43 jerry cans of liquid soap, 480 syrup and 5 tip tap to the hospital in Gisenyi, Rubavu district. In addition to the hospital, other materials have been distributed to two schools. The Kayanza School Centre in Nyundo sector received 4 Tip-taps, 2 jerry cans of liquid soap and some laundry soap. The Gitebe II School Group, in the Rugerero sector received 4 tip tap and liquid soaps. All the material will be used to reinforce hygiene during this period of health crisis.
The General Director of the Gisenyi hospital, Dr Oreste Tuganeyezu, expressed his full satisfaction with the support of the RRC. “The equipment comes at the right time because we are preparing for the vaccination against covid-19, and we will greatly need all this equipment,” said Dr Oreste Tuganeyezu. “We are grateful to the RRC because every time this pandemic has plunged us into mourning, your teams have assisted us,” added Dr Tuganeyezu.
The Vice-Mayor of Social Affairs of Rubavu District, Pacifique Ishimwe, expressed her gratitude to the RRC, which has been very close to the people of Rubavu during this time of health crisis. “We have always noticed your presence beside us at every loss of life,” said Pacifique Ishimwe, who is in charge of social affairs on the Rubavu District Executive Committee.
When there is a death, it is the RRC volunteers who take care of the burial. “Since the beginning of the pandemic, we have buried 19 people. Eight in 2020 and 11 already in 2021,” explains Flavier Nshimiyimana, RRC focal point in Rubavu.
And given the effectiveness of these volunteers in the prevention and response actions (Infection Prevention Control-IPC) against covid-19, the hospital in Gisenyi has recruited two of them to work on a permanent basis.
RRC in prevention and psychosocial support (PSC)
RRC volunteers are heavily involved in psycho-social support (PSC). They take care of hygiene, disinfection and patient transport, according to Flavier Nshimiyimana, RRC focal point in Rubavu.
“We disinfect the patients’ homes and move them to the treatment center. Until September before the closure of the Rugerero and Nyakiriba Centre, we stayed with the patients to assist them,” says Nshimiyimana. So the distribution of food to the patients was left to the volunteers.
“During the confinement, the RRC organized a food distribution… there were many actions. This is a solid partnership,” insists Vice-Mayor Pacific Ishimwe.
Some of the RRC’s actions, through the volunteers, relate to prevention. “The volunteers are responsible for mobilizing the community,” reveals Flavier Nshimiyimana, RRC focal point in Rubavu. “They give messages in schools, markets and centers where many people meet to prevent covid-19 through the use of mobile sonos,” says Nshimiyimana. They also organize broadcasts on Rubavu community radio.
The covid-19 pandemic persists in the country and of course in Rubavu on the border with DRC. The situation has stabilized at the level of deaths in this district. This is not the case in the rest of the country, particularly in Kigali.
Gérard Rugambwa
