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Rwanda: Kagame stands firm. Rights? Yes, but put food on the table first

Sixteen years on from the genocide, Rwanda is thriving and prosperous, beloved of donor nations but its president is accused of stifling dissent

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/may/28/rwanada-kagame-defends-rights-record

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/may/28/rwanada-kagame-defends-rights-record

Headlines in Rwanda Today

Maternal death audit system key to curbing mortality

By Irene V. Nambi

Health Minister Dr. Richard Sezibera taking part in the Immunisation exercise in Bugesera District recently.(File photo)

RWAMAGANA - Barely six months since the government introduced the maternal death audit system, the method has already identified the major causes of maternal mortality in Rwamagana District.

This was revealed yesterday by the Medical Chief of Staff at Rwamagana hospital, Dr. Avite Mutaganzwa.

According to Mutaganzwa, the system was established to control deaths and find solutions to the reasons why women die due to pregnancy-related causes.

“Last year, health workers were trained how to carry out maternal audits and it started in January this year. Since its inception, we have identified the major causes of these deaths as uterus ruptures, bleeding after delivery, and infections that occur after delivery,” Mutaganzwa explained.

The official highlighted that in the past, these deaths were simply documented but not much was done to ensure that other women do not die of the same causes.

“It is a different story today, because we not only find out why they die, but we also find solutions to these causes and ensure that maternal mortality is prevented right at the community level,” he added.

“Between January and April 2010, we handled eight cases of ruptured uterus, three of bleeding after delivery and 32 post-delivery infections. This is an improvement compared to the figures of previous years, like in 2008 where 163 cases of bleeding were received.”

He however highlighted that despite many efforts, two mothers have died this year adding that both had uterus raptures.

Having identified the causes, officials have embarked on a massive sensitization drive using community health workers to urge the population to use family planning methods and deliver at health facilities.

“Last year, 42.5 % mothers delivered at health facilities, but for the last four months alone, the percentage has grown to 61 percent. We believe that by year end, it will be much higher.”

Jeannette Mukamparirwa, a resident of Rwamagana, delivered her baby girl two weeks ago after a complicated nine months.

Mukamparirwa had a placenta previa problem (a situation where the uterus is lying unusually low in the uterus, next to or covering the cervix) and bled almost throughout the whole pregnancy period.

“My baby would not have been alive if it were not for the special care I was given. I was in terrible condition but the special attention from medics got me through the pregnancy,” she explained as she smiled.

An optimistic Mutaganzwa added that with interventions like performance-based financing, efforts of community health workers and maternal death audits, mortality of mothers will soon be history.

The system is supported by UNFPA, the Global Fund, Lux Development and EGPAF among others.

http://www.newtimes.co.rw/index.php?issue=14266&article=29343

http://www.newtimes.co.rw/index.php?issue=14266&article=29343

I Just Found This and Copied It, I had To!

My friends, adoption is redemption. It's costly, exhausting, expensive, and outrageous. Buying back lives costs so much. When God set out to redeem us, it killed Him.

-Derek Loux

Harrisburg Paperwork!

Well, one trip down and a couple more to go! The girls and I hit the road early this morning to take our PA paperwork to the State Capitol Complex to get authenticated. I thought I knew what I was doing...had a binder of all of our required documents....and then the kind woman at the desk asked me a simple question.
"Do you know if the country you are adopting from allows you to bundle documents?"
Somewhere inside, I thought the answer was, "Yes!" but I hesitated.
I doubted myself.
She then looked over our background checks and saw that they were not notarized.
How did I skip that step??
"There is a notary right around the corner, you can head over there while we start authenticating the other documents."
I looked at my file folder and saw that I had background clearance forms for our two daughters over age 14, but I hadn't included them in the pile for authentication. Had I purposely left them out or had I overlooked them?
I decided to think about it while I ran around the block to get the clearance papers notarized.
Then the Lord gave me a brilliant idea!
"Call the Embassy!"
Within minutes, I heard a familiar Rwandan accent answering the phone.
I explained that I was doing my adoption paperwork and didn't want to make any mistakes.
He was so soft spoken, gentle and kind.
"Sure, go ahead and bundle the papers, that is fine, " he told me.
"Do I need clearances for my teenage daughters?" I asked.
"No, if they are underage and you are responsible for them, not if they are under 18, you do not need those papers."
I thanked him and breathed a quick sigh of relief. Crisis averted.
The notary charged me half price because this was an adoption. Unmerited favor!
But then I realized I needed to let the authentication expert know that I could bundle documents or I would be charged an arm and a leg. I quickly called the office and the person on the other end would not take a message to anyone, "Just explain it all when you get back."
I ran back around the block and up to the second floor. I explained my situation to the secretary at the desk, telling her that I had called the Embassy.
"Oh, perfect," she replied, "Because we decided not to do anything with your documents until you got back. Now we know just what to do!"
The whole process took 1 hour and 15 minutes and cost $135 for the docs to be authenticated and $10 for the notary services.
Tomorrow, it's off to Dover, DE to authenticate marriage license, birth certificates and our home study!!

What's A Mobile Notary Anyway?

It's easy enough to get overwhelmed with the whole paper chase required in international adoption. But once you solve a problem or have a breakthrough, it really looks like this thing could actually happen. We needed to have our medical forms notarized. How? There is no notary at our doctor's office! I did not know there was such a thing as a MOBILE NOTARY. Now I know. All you have to do is:
1) Find a notary who travels and will meet you at the desired office.
2)Contact your physician's office and see when would be a good time to have the doc sign your medical papers.
3)Call the notary back and schedule an appt for all of you to meet.
4) Show up with paperwork and check in hand for notary service. Ours was $25 for both forms to be verified.
Good Luck!

Woman Arrested for Dumping Baby in Latrine

By Frank Kanyesigye

CULPRIT; Nadia Iradukunda (Photo.F. Goodman)

A woman was yesterday arrested for allegedly dumping her five-month old baby boy into a pit latrine at the premises of HAGURUKA, a local NGO based in Kisementi in Remera Sector, Gasabo district.

Speaking to The New Times, Eria Nizeyimana, HAGURUKA’s Director of Programs, who was at the office before the woman dumped her kid, said that Nadia Iradukunda desperately wanted to get rid of the baby.

“I reached the office early in the morning and found Iradukunda seated in front of our office holding her baby, and I asked her why she was at our office that early and she told me that she had problems,” Nizeyimana said.

“I went straight to my office, and about three minutes later, she came to my office and said ‘I have now solved my problems’.”

Nizeyimana said that he immediately became suspicious.
‘I asked her, where is your baby?, and she told me that she had dumped the baby in the pit latrine, ” he explained.

The cries of the baby could be heard from the latrine. “I called the police to intervene, and the baby was removed and rushed to Kibagabaga hospital,” Ndeziyimana said.
“The baby survived because of the timely intervention”.

According to the NGO’s Legal Advisor, Stephanie Uwimana, the woman was working as a housemaid for one, Dateus Rugamba, who allegedly impregnated and disowned her.

“Iradukunda came to us in January saying that Rugamba had refused to take care of the baby. We then summoned him to our office to explain,” Uwimana said.

“Rugamba promised to take care of the baby by giving 10,000 francs every month to the mother.”

Eric Kayiranga, the police spokesperson, told The New Times that Iradukunda will be charged with attempted murder.

Ends

http://www.newtimes.co.rw/index.php?issue=14255&article=6856