Medical Ministry International in Rwanda

A group of patients lining up to go into the clinic. Some of them have eye patches, indicating a recent cataract surgery.

Medical Ministry International first travelled to Rwanda with Dr Pete & Judy Obregon in the early 90’s. They led many surgical teams to Kibogora Hospital in the southern part of the country. Peta-Ann Schmidt worked alongside them and learnt from them, and is now the Project Director for Rwanda, planning projects from her home base in South Africa.

In 2019 Medical Ministry International sent our first team to Byumba, in the northern part of the country. We have established a wonderful partnership with the EAR Anglican Diocese in Byumba.  This particular Diocese partnered with a US Diocese to build and establish the Ruhenda Health Centre in Byumba where we screened and treated almost 1500 eye patients. 65 cataract surgeries were done in partnership with the District Hospital in Byumba town.

Peta-Ann Schmidt also leads Medical Ministry International’s projects in Zambia. She is a physical therapist working in private practice in her native country, South Africa. Peta-Ann found out about Medical Ministry International through our website and participated as a volunteer on a project in Peru in 2005. She is excited about the opportunity to serve the people of Africa in such an effective way.

Peta-Ann Schmidt (center), Project Director

Peta-Ann Schmidt (center), Project Director

Project Site:

Byumba


Byumba is a city in northern Rwanda, and is the capital of Gicumbi District. It has a population of 75,463 (as of 2012), with 85% of the population having health insurance. Access to clinics and health centres continues to improve but are run mostly by qualified nurses. Physicians (per 1000 people) was reported as 0.1182 in 2019, with a great lack in specialist doctors, particularly ophthalmologists. Byumba is home to an SOS Children's Village.

2023 Project Description: To provide quality eye care to the community of Byumba and surrounding areas, by working in partnership with the EAR Anglican Diocese Byumba, Ruhenda Health Care Centre and the District Hospital in Byumba town. Participants will be staying at the Urumuli Hotel in Byumba, hosted by the EAR Anglican Diocese Byumba. The eye project will be run at the Ruhenda Health Centre and the cataract surgeries will be done at the District Hospital in Byumba town.

Elevation
2263 m

Climate
The climate in Byumba is warm and temperate. Byumba is a city with a significant rainfall, about 1144 mm of precipitation falls annually. In Byumba, the average annual temperature is 16°C (60°F).
Group of people waiting outside the clinic.

Travelling on a Project

Entry & Exit Requirements


Travelers must present a passport, which must be valid for at least six months beyond the date of expected departure. Tourist visa is required.

Important: It is very important that all participants bring the correct paperwork for the working visa.

• Americans: Need to obtain a visa on arrival at airport in Rwanda ($30), and then must also apply for a Working visa in-country ($80).
For more information, see the US State Department website:
http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/country/rwanda.html

• Canadians: Need to obtain an Tourist visa PRIOR to entering Rwanda ($50USD), and then must also apply for a Working visa in-country ($80). Apply for a Tourist Visa online at:
https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/rwanda

• International: Please contact MMI office or Key Travel (formerly Raptim Humanitarian Travel) for visa requirement if needed.

Application Requirements


Please email ALL CREDENTIALS upon application, as these must go to the Project Director in the country to be translated and then taken to the Ministry of Health to get temporary licenses prior to your arrival.

• For everyone, we need:
- Colour Scan / Photocopy of Passport (photo page)
- Colour photo for your name badge (any good photo, we can adjust size)
- Travel Itinerary
- Supply Lists

• Medical Professionals, we also need your:
- Current License (through time of project)
- Diploma (Techs, Nursing, Dental, MD and Board Certifications)
- Curriculum Vitae or Resume (this also will help the Project Director know your skills & experience to assign you a task on the project, especially for 1st time participants)

• Health Care Students: Letter of Good Standing from your school (including year of study and graduation date).

• All MINORS travelling with only one parent, or without their parents, will need a letter from BOTH parents stating that it is OK for the child to travel with one parent or an appointed guardian. The letter should be signed and notarized. MMI needs a copy of this letter, and the parent or guardian should carry the original letter while travelling.

Travel


Airfare is not included on the Project Schedule because the costs for airfare vary significantly based on the country location, location of team members, and time of year.

Once accepted for a Project Team, participants can contact our designated travel agent to coordinate schedules with the team itinerary.

Globespan Travel Management www.globespan.com
Email: Globespan on behalf of Medical Ministry International mmitravel@globespan.com
Phone: Connie Kelsey at: (800) 810-1948 or (416) 322-7629

• Applicants from outside USA or Canada:
Travel arrangement can be procured locally or with the recommended agency, but arrivals & departures must coordinate with team.

• Airport: Kigali International Airport (KGL), Kigali, Rwanda

Immunizations


We strongly recommend that you consult a travel clinic, as they are aware of outbreaks and can suggest preventative immunizations. All routine immunizations should be up-to-date. Please check the following website for the most current information.

• Americans: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/rwanda

• Canadians: https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/rwanda

Accommodations and Meals


MMI will arrange local accommodations for the team.
• Laundry Service: usually available for additional fee
• AC/Heat: No
• Phone Service: check with your cell phone provider, roaming is very expensive
• Wifi/Internet: Yes
• Voltage: 220V(adaptor and converter required).
• Meals: MMI will provide meals for the team. Dietary restrictions can be indicated on your application and we will do our best to accommodate your needs. Be sure to bring your own re-usable water bottle with a wide mouth for refilling. Purified water is supplied. If you would like to bring snacks to have throughout the day, please bring items such as peanut butter, granola bars, trail mix or pretzels and crackers in sealable containers (like Ziploc bags).

Culture

• Language: Kinyarwanda (official), French, and other languages 6.2%.
• Religion:
- Roman Catholic: 49.5%
- Protestant: 39.4%
- Other Christian: 4.5%
- Muslim: 1.8%
- Other: 3.6%
• Government: Presidential Republic

Currency


The money in Rwanda is called the Rwandan Franc (RWF). MMI staff will help you exchange money. All major credit cards are accepted - Visa and MasterCard the most widely accepted (make sure to call your credit card company and let them know that you’ll be traveling internationally). Traveler’s cheques are not easily cashed. You must bring US dollars in good condition. Torn, stamped or old bills will not be exchanged. $100 bills older than 2006 are also not accepted.

About Rwanda

COUNTRY BACKGROUND

Rwanda’s economy is primarily based on agriculture, particularly coffee, tea, bananas, sorghum, and potatoes. Kinyarwanda, English, and French are all official languages. Lake Kivu is one the African Great Lakes, and is a center for tectonic activity which results in unique water overturns. Rwanda is known as the "Land of the Thousand Hills", and is one of the few places in the world today where Mountain Gorillas can be seen in the wild. The population of Rwanda is young and predominantly rural, with a density among the highest in Africa. Rwandans are drawn from just one cultural and linguistic group, the Banyarwanda, although within this group there are three subgroups: the Hutu, Tutsi and Twa. 

Rwanda's economy suffered heavily during the 1994 genocide, with widespread loss of life, failure to maintain infrastructure, looting, and neglect of important cash crops. The economy has since strengthened. Coffee and tea are the major cash crops for export, with the high altitudes, steep slopes and volcanic soils providing favourable conditions. An estimated 90% of the working population farms green bananas, potatoes, beans, cassava, wheat and maize. 

LOCATION:

Central Africa, east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, north of Burundi

GEOGRAPHIC COORDINATES:

2 00 S, 30 00 E

MAP REFERENCES:

Africa

TOTAL AREA:

26,338 km²

BORDER COUNTRIES:

Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Uganda

COASTLINE:

0 km (landlocked)

MARITIME CLAIMS:

None (landlocked)

CLIMATE:

Temperate; two rainy seasons (February to April, November to January); mild in mountains with frost and snow possible

TERRAIN:

Mostly grassy uplands and hills; relief is mountainous with altitude declining from west to east

ELEVATION EXTREMES

LOWEST POINT:

Rusizi River - 950 m

HIGHEST POINT:

Volcan Karisimbi - 4,519 m

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