Author: Kalinda Brenda

Babyl Rwanda, a digital health provider has today launched partnership with Ministry of health to allow a patient’s diagnosis without the traditional physical appointment with the doctor.

Since 2016, more than 700,000 subscribers of the online system can grab a phone, download Babyl application that guides you in an interaction with the doctor without leaving your home.

A patient can also dial *811# and follow instructions until they are connected to the doctor who can listen to them and advise accordingly.

This diagnosis costs Rwf 500.

Introduced in Rwanda in 2016, with now more than 700,000 subscribers, Babyl believes that it is high time to seek partners who can help achieve its mission.

On Wednesday, officials from  Babyl, Ministry of Health and health insurance providers convened in Kigali to discuss how each can bring a vital contribution to the program that is set to save time and money.

“We are trying to make the service easy for all people to access. We are still in negotiations with different health insurance providers, but starting from next month our customers with health insurances like RAMA, Community Health Insurance (Mutuelle de santé) and BRITAM will start using them,” Tracey McNeil, the CEO of Babyl Rwanda said.

This partnership with RAMA, an insurance which mainly has a stronghold among public servants will give Babyl subscribers access to drugs in their proximity, because the insurer has contracts with several pharmacies across the country.

According to Dr. Diane Gashumba, the Minister of Health, Babyl is making Rwanda’s healthcare service delivery easier.

“The government of Rwanda is embracing cutting edge technology by partnering with Babyl Rwanda to ensure every citizen can access required health service,” she said.

“This partnership underlines that proven technology to deliver vital services can be adopted to reach all including those that are not necessarily tech savy,” Gashumba added.

Statistics from Babyl show that on a daily basis, they receive more than 1500 patients who spend about 5 to 30 minutes with a doctor each.

Rwanda is the first African country that Babyl has extended its services. It was founded in UK in 2014.

The ministry of education will tomorrow – January 9^th release Primary and Ordinary Level examination results for 2017.

The total number of primary candidates who sat for the exams was 237,181. The number increased by 42,502 compared to 194,679 who sat in 2016 while O’ level candidates were 98,268.

In the last two years, girls have been outshining boys in the national exams.

In 2015, girls excelled with 54.67 per cent against 45.33 per cent of boys and in 2016, girls represented 55.28 per cent, compared to 44.72 per cent boys.

While officiating last year’s national exams, the state Minister for Primary and Secondary Education, Isaac Munyakazi told the candidates to be confident, not to panic and make sure they succeed to make their parents and teachers proud.

“I trust you all read and made enough revision for the exams. So do not panic and do not leave any question unanswered. Make your teachers, parents and the country proud,” he told the candidates.

African Park, the non-profit organization which manages big parks including Rwanda’s Akagera National Park, has appointed Prince Henry of Wales as their new president.

“In this position, Prince Harry will be working with us in various capacities to further our mission in managing national parks on behalf of governments, and to advance wildlife conservation across Africa and around the globe,” reads a communiqué from Peter Fearnhead, CEO African Parks on Wednesday.

African Parks is a non-profit conservation organization that takes the direct responsibility of rehabilitating and managing protected areas in Africa in partnership with governments and local communities.

Prince Harry has a particular interest in wildlife protection. African Parks indicates that in July 2016, the member of UK Royal family was Part of the African Parks’ Team that helped with one of the largest elephant translocations in history, in Malawi.

“He is deeply passionate about protecting Africa’s wildlife and wild places, and it is a tremendous honour that he has chosen African Parks to solidify his commitment to conservation.”

African Parks Network signed with Rwanda Development Board (RDB) a 20-year renewable agreement for the joint management of Akagera National Park in 2009.

In 2010 the Akagera Management Campany was found as the joint management body for Akagera National Park.

Ever since the new manager started park transformation to add Rwanda in the family of the Big Five countries.

Seven lions were reintroduced in Akagera Park from South Africa in July 2015, making them the first big cats in Rwanda after the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi.

In May 2017, around 20 Eastern black rhinos from South Africa were also reintroduced in Akagera National Park after an absence of 10 years.

They joined elephants and leopards to attract more tourists.

The Job Awaiting Prince Harry in Akagera

Since the last two years, Akagera’s population of animal species has been increasing immensely according to the new census released by Akagera National Park.

From the 2017 aerial census, Akagera has a total of 12,142 animals including 100 elephants, 2,879 buffalo, 88 giraffes, 214 elands, 39 Roan, 1,033 waterbucks, 1,901 Zebra, 888 Topi, 55 sitatungas, 1,773 impala, 783 warthog, 1,643 hippopotamus, and 500 crocodiles.

However, compared to the previous aerial census released in 2015, the population decreased from 12,275 to 12,142 animals.

According to the report, the population of species like eland, roans, warthog, and waterbuck decreased despite the increase of elephants, hippopotamus, buffalo, zebras, giraffe, and crocodiles.

In defense to the decrease; Sarah Hall, the Tourism and Marketing Manager of Akagera Management Company told KT Press that “It is likely due to poor counting conditions caused by cloud and rain that affected the visibility,”

“Some areas of the park had recently burned down which causes a dark background against which animals have to be counted, typically this reduced visibility for some species and made spotting and counting difficult,’ she explained.

Unlike the previous years, this year Akagera management used AS 350 B3 helicopter for this survey which is much larger than the R44 used for all previous surveys and capable of carrying as many as six people.

Each census zone was surveyed separately on a different day. The terrestrial zone took two days to complete and it took a total of 27.9 hours of airtime spent actively to complete the survey.

Born twenty six years ago, Egide Niyonshuti lost his father at a tender age of three. He was raised by his mother and it has been a tough journey growing up.

“My father died when I was 3 years. My mother did not have an income I was left with nothing,” he told KT Press, adding that his father was a victim of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

Niyonshuti narrated that he always felt the need of having a father or brother to count on… “but I was never lucky to have any. My mother was all I had and life continued that way,” he said.

Pushed to the edge by challenges in life, Niyonshuti joined Genocide survivor students association (AERG) created in 1996, dedicated to provide financial help, moral support and ensuring that survivor students overcome the challenges caused by the 1994 tragedy.

The association paid for his tuition until college where he studied childhood development studies.

One morning when he was at his home in Rwamagana district, Niyonshuti was called by AERG informing him that he had been selected to join Imbuto Foundation Mentorship forum for Young Men themed ‘Strong and Dignified’.

This forum was launched last year by the Chairperson of Imbuto Mrs Jeannette Kagame to address challenges faced by young men as a result of post-traumatic stress disorder, caused by their experiences during the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi.

“I was surprised,” he told KT Press. For Niyonshuti, Imbuto was for girls.”

A few days later, Niyonshuti was invited to Kigali Serena Hotel to a forum where he would also meet others selected by Imbuto Foundation.

“It was my first time to enter Serena Hotel. I felt a very important person being received. I met over 200 young men from different places and we were introduced to a mentorship forum for young men,” he explained.

On the third day, we were guided, inspired, supported and encouraged on different aspects of life.

“They would decide which mentor to pair you with depending on your interests. My mentor is a communicator,” Niyonshuti told KT Press.

Life after forum

For the past ten months since Niyonshuti left the mentorship forum, he has more hope and a clear vision.

“My mentor took up responsibilities he was never given. He calls me to know how am doing, he supports my ideas, he advices me and most importantly he at times helps me financially,” he said.

Niyonshuti was mentored on personal conduct including dress code and self-confidence which he believes are major.

“I used to think that a better job was only an office job but later realised a small idea can create a job. My mentor tasked me to come up with viable project before end of year,” he added.

Niyonshuti is among over 200 young men who are benefiting from the Imbuto Foundation’s mentorship program.

For the last decade, Imbuto Foundation has been supporting and empowering thousands of vulnerable Rwandan communities through health, education, youth and economic empowerment activities.

Awarding Best Performing Girls (BPGs)

Imbuto Foundation is mostly known for its annual awards and rewards to girls that excel in academics. Since 2005, over 4,000 Best Performing Girls have been rewarded.

In this year’s campaign, Imbuto foundation rewarded 202 girls from primary and ordinary levels and 25 girls from advanced levels.

During the awarding ceremony, The First Lady encouraged these girls to accomplish their potentials, excel in studies and aspire to become great people.

“When you have commitment with courage and vision, there is nothing at all that can make you fail,” she said.

First Lady pledges to support youth

During the Transform Africa Summit in March, Mrs. Kagame offered her full support to young Rwandans investing in projects that deal with health issues.

“Our duty is to empower youth with life-saving information and encourage them to take the lead in curbing health issues,” she said.

In February, the First Lady, under Imbuto Foundation’s iAccelerator program awarded 4 health projects; Umbrella, Girls District, Tantine and Tubivugane television Show with $10,000 each to implement their projects.

The program seeks to reward best young entrepreneurs, who have projects that bring solutions to pressing sexual and reproductive health challenges

On the same issue, Mrs. Kagame urged parents to give children ample time to ensure their decent education, growth and excellent school performance.

She said this during the launch of the Campaign on Governance and Family Promotion in October 2017.

“Our dearest children, remember your future depends on choices you make. Avoid those that lead you into vices. We shall repeat this until we bring down alarming figures of pregnancies,” Mrs Kagame said.

This year has seen Mrs Kagame in a couple of events encouraging, empowering and supporting girls.

In November, she attended the Maranyundo Girl’s high school first graduation where she said that she is living the life of her dreams where girls are having a platform to education.

“Not only do we focus on making education accessible to girls in all primary and secondary schools but we also emphasize the value to a range of subjects mainly sciences,” she said.

Celebrating women’s success

In July, Mrs Kagame commended women for venturing into activities that seemed difficult after the difficult times of the Genocide against the Tutsi.

This was during the 25th anniversary of Pro-Femmes Twese Hamwe, an umbrella of women civil society organizations.

On the same day, the First lady officiated at the launch of Rwf530-million complex located in Gahanga Sector, Kicukiro District, the first phase of a center of excellence for women’s leadership that comprises offices, meeting rooms, among others.

International events First Lady attended in 2017

On September 14, Breakfast meeting in London

On September 13, Bloomberg Philanthropists Board Meeting in London

On October 19, Global Citizen Forum – Sveti Stefan Monte

Rwandans wishing to learn how to fly a big plane, commonly known as fixed-wing aircraft will not have to think about looking for a visa anymore.

All is set for Rwanda to start an aviation school in February 2018 where not only military officers but also civilians can enroll.

“Akagera aviation has been offering training for rotary-wing planes- helicopters, but this time it will open a section of the fixed-wing airplane,” Jean de Dieu Uwihanganye, Minister of State in charge of Transport told KT Press.

“We will train pilots and later on, we shall open aircraft mechanical department and then aircraft service crew,” said Uwihanganye.

This will bridge the existing gap. RwandAir has 150 pilots and only 25 are Rwandans, including only two captains.

“We have a target of training at least 200 pilots in the next five years,” he said adding that the availability of more pilots will allow RwandAir to increase the number of destinations to 40 from the current 25.

Patrick Nkulikiyimpfura the Managing Director of Akagera Aviation Limited told KT Press that registration for February intake has already been closed to 20 students for the inaugural class.

One intake will take one and a half years, but the school will register new students every year.

Meanwhile, Akagera Aviation on Thursday graduated 11 pilots who concluded sixteen-month training course on rotary-wing aircraft.

“It started as a tough journey but since I had taken a bold decision to never disappoint, I remained focused,” said Robert Kayumba who emerged top of his class.

“My classmates and I used to spend sleepless nights. I am happy that we all made it.”

The 11 who graduated today comprise the third intake. So far, Akagera aviation has trained 50 pilots, some of them serving in the United Nations peacekeeping missions.

The graduates have successfully completed their theory and practical tests in aerodynamics, meteorology, navigation, flight planning performance, and radio communication.

They told KT Press that for someone to enroll, good skills in Mathematical Sciences, Physics and Geography are vital.

However, attitude is also very important when you want to become a good pilot.

Apparently, graduates of the rotary-wing aircraft section would have more ease to embrace further training on the fixed-wing aircraft.

“Among the remaining skills include a training of 200 to 500 hours,” Joseph Ndayishimiye, director of training and operations at Akagera Aviation Ltd said.

The Institute of National Museums in Rwanda (INMR) has officially changed the Natural History Museum at Kandt House to Museum of Germany Colonial History.

In May 2016, Members of Parliament visited the Kandt House which is the remaining symbol of the Germany colonization in Rwanda, yet it was housing the Natural history museum.

The house belongs to Richard Kandt the first colonial master in Rwanda who governed Rwanda on behalf of Germany until the early 1900s.

They recommended that the museum be turned into the Museum of Germany Colonial History which should exhibit all the history of Germany in Rwanda.

“A lot of change is going to be done in this museum. We will insert more pictures detailing the history of Germans in Rwanda plus the bad and the ugly side of the German colonialists from the first day they stepped in Rwanda,” said Amb. Robert Masozera, the Director General of Institute of National Museums of Rwanda.

This will attract many visitors to the museum and tell more of the Rwandan story.

Currently, the museum receives around 1200 visitors every year, earning the country Rwf 2million.

“It has been a loss to many Rwandans because they would not be able to find that history anywhere but this renaming will give a bigger picture of the ancient Rwanda,” Masozera said.

While officiating at the inauguration event, Dr Peter Woeste the Germany Ambassador to Rwanda said that it was the right time for the museum to serve its purpose.

“It is good to have a new look which details the history and relation of Rwanda and Germany. Previously, the exhibition was made of a mixture of items, but the renaming will give it a clear line in telling relationship of Rwanda and Germany,” he said.

Meanwhile, Rwanda has eight museums from only one in 1994. INMR statistics indicate that the increase in historical sites has translated into an increase in museum tourists from 1000 in 1994 to 200,000 in 2017.

Income of the museum’s visit increased to Rwf200 million in 2017 from Rwf1 million in 1994.