Christmas is one of most important Christian and cultural holidays of the year celebrating the birth of the Savior, Jesus Christ. As most people get busy for celebrations of Christmas, it is on the other hand a time of sorrow when things have turned wrong in different circumstances or think of loved ones who will not be able to come home for various reasons.
As a responsible bank, Banque Populaire du Rwanda Plc. (BPR Plc.) has helped poor members of the community to celebrate Christmas with their families by paying outstanding medical bills for over 30 patients giving relief to sick children and their caretakers who got discharged.
The beneficiaries were surprised with the kind act on the Eve of Christmas 24th December 2019 respectively at University Teaching Hospital of Kigali (CHUK) and Kibagabaga Hospital in Kigali.
Some beneficiaries had spent over a year or six months having children operated several times for complicated cases and had no means to pay medical bills.
Jusele Umuhuzawabo from Gicumbi, spent one year and half at CHUK looking after a skin grafted child and expressed delight for the kind act receiving the payment of a medical bill worth over Rwf 328,000.
Josiane Uwayisenga, mother who had an outstanding bill for an oxygenated child at Kibagabaga Hospital let down tears of joy for the improvised surprise as she heard the good news that BPR paid his over Rwf 1.5 million bill.
“I was desperate for the outstanding medical bill and feel touched by the support from BPR. I can’t find the right way to express my emotions. I have nothing to say except sincere appreciation from the bottom of my heart. This is an act of humanity. May God keep blessing your works abundantly,” she said.
Staff from both hospitals voiced appreciation for the gesture giving relief to patients and caretakers getting discharged to celebrate and feel the mood of Christmas with beloved families
BPR also offered Christmas packs, milk packs, sugar, pampers among other goodies to hospitalized children and caretakers.
BPR Managing Director Maurice Toroitich said the bank attaches great importance to to helping distressed people who pushed it to spread Christmas joy with poor people who have struggled to pay their bills, especially long outstanding ones.
“It is about giving them a chance to go home and enjoy Christmas with their families and also give the hospital a chance to get some money to take care of the remaining. These patients discharged will free the beds to give room for more patients to be admitted treated,” he said.
