Burundian refugees living at Mahama Camp in Kirehe District have recently received a donation of an ambulance to improve movements of patients from the camp to the District referral hospital as well as improving maternity services to avoid child birth risks.
The facility is also expected to support refugee women and adolescents to build their resilience through life-saving sexual and reproductive health care, including HIV and Gender Based Violence prevention and management services in Mahama camp.
The ambulance was donated by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in the support of the Government of Japan as part of humanitarian response activities.
According to the officials in Mahama camp about 300 patients are transferred to the District hospital of Kirehe including maternity services where, since the creation of the camp, a total of 5030 babies were born representing 2.9 per cent of child birth rate per year.
Mr. Takayuki Miyashita, Ambassador of Japan to Rwanda said that the donated ambulance will secure the lives of people in the camp and keep them safe from diseases among other health calamities.
“The Government of Japan has been continuously supporting Burundian refugees in Rwanda in different areas through several partners. We are grateful to UNFPA Rwanda and its partners for the daily efforts to uplift dignity and save lives of the most vulnerable women, adolescents and youth,” Miyashita added.
Daniel Alemu, UNFPA Deputy Representative to Rwanda, said that the facility will not only benefit Burundian refugees but also other community members in the vicinity of the camp in line with avoid any child birth death.
“The ambulance will support referral system for complicated obstetrical and GBV cases. We have no doubt that joint efforts will greatly contribute to alleviating the suffering of women and girls in need of reproductive health and gender based violence services to meet fundamental human rights,”Alemu added.
Chantal Bibonimana, in charge of social affairs in Mahama camp, said that the ambulance will help patients who need quick support from the hospital outside the camp.
“We are happy for the donation of the ambulance. It will support pregnant women in the camp. We only had one ambulance and it was difficult to support in case more than one patient or pregnant woman need a quick support,” Bibonimana added.
The ambulance will support activities related to family planning. A total of 3806 families have so far embraced the development.
The Express News