News


October 2022 - Great visit from Potsdam

Christoph Miethke, the CEO of CHRISTOPH MIETHKE GMBH & CO. KG, visited us in Gikonko. He and his company have been supporting our work for years by donating hydrocephalus valves/shunts. Both in the operating room and when meeting some of our hydrocephalus children, he was able to see for himself that the help arrives where it is needed. Through the generous support with hydrocephalus valves/shunts for years, our children have a chance to live.  In total, we have been able to implant more than 1000 shunts since 2002.

 

 



October 2022 - Spina bifida Days

After 2 years of Corona break, we could again offer our parent-child seminars for families with Spina Bifida children. The three seminars were again a complete success: a step further to live with the disability, to understand it and to be able to draw hope through friendly contacts with also affected people.

Tuyizere also had something to say to us:

 

Poem by Tuyizere Jean d'Amour

 

There are things I can do:

Look after me and love me

I am a child like any other

My disability is not a reason not to be loved

Not to have the chance of going to school.

Don't leave me on the left

I also have abilities

Let's help each other in diversity,

so equality can come into being.

 

There is much that is complementary in Rwanda

and everywhere.

Parents, all you parents everywhere in the world,

 

say: all children are equal everywhere !!!



Covid 19

We are prepared by:

  • screening at entry
  • social distancing as far as possible in an overcrowded Health Centre
  • wearing face masks

 

We would be thankful for:

  • more gloves
  • more maskes
  • personal protection


August 2020 - Information on the current Situation of the Covid 19 Pandemic

Meanwile over 2000 patients have been tested positive in the country, 5 fatalities were reported. Every day 20-30 or more cases positive are added.

 

Rusizi is still in a close look-down. For the rest of the country travalling is possible, during day time for strikt reason. Facemask are mandatory, and not following this laws is striclty punished. Bars and restaurants are open during day time. Religious ceremnies are allowed under strict advises and limitation of participants. 


April 2020 - Information on the current situation of the Covid 19 Pandemic

Rwanda has recorded 243 positive Covid 19 cases since the beginning of the corona crisis. 104 patients have now recovered and 139 are still under treatment. No serious cases are known so far.  Most corona cases are currently found in the capital Kigali or in border regions, especially on the border to Tanzania. Within the country, no new infections have been known for a week. 

 

At the beginning of the crisis, the government of Rwanda tried to stop the spread of the virus with drastic measures. In Rwanda, for example, a curfew was imposed and the borders were closed. Due to first successes and a decrease of the infection rate, first measures could now be eased. The curfew now only applies at night. Overland travel from Kigali to the provinces is still prohibited and the borders remain closed. Churches, bars and sports facilities, as well as schools, remain closed until further notice. 

 

Although these measures have been successful in reducing the spread of the virus, other problems have grown again during this period. For example, the number of hungry people, especially children, has risen sharply in recent weeks, as the population of Rwanda is dependent on food supplies from abroad as well as visits to the market and income from the sale of its own products. Hunger could thus become a much worse problem in the coming months than the corona virus itself. 

 

Rwanda will also feel the economic consequences of the crisis, which could slow down the successful development of the past years. 

 

In our hospital, too, we are trying to master the crisis as best we can. For example, we have been sewing respiratory masks for our employees for several weeks now, set up a small quarantine station on our premises right at the beginning of the crisis and are trying to fill our stocks to be able to cope with the expected supply shortages. Before entering the hospital, every patient's fever is measured and all our patients are regularly tested for critical symptoms. Fortunately, no Covid-19 cases have been reported in our hospital or district. Nevertheless, we remain vigilant and try to protect ourselves and those entrusted to us as much as possible.

 

 

Thanks to the spontenous assistance from German Ambassy, and later on from other friend we had the possibility to distribute beens, rice and Soap to the population in need


2019 - Achievements

  • 100 children got treatment with Hydrocephalus.
  • 613 babies born in Gikonko Health Center
  • 793 children with complete immunisation
  • 28609 people got ambulant care; 1954 got hospital care