The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention through a partnership with Tulane University and the University of Colorado today (Tuesday) April 3 at 8:30am handed over medical equipment worth over US$94,660 (about Rwf57million) to Kabgayi Hospital in Southern Province.
The ceremony was officiated by, among other guests; Dr. Oseé Sebatunzi the Director of Kabgayi Hospital and Zara Ahmed the representative of the US Center for Disease Control, Bridget Lavin – representative of Tulane University and Dr. Calvin Wilson – project Director for the University of Colorado Denver.
In a related development, another set of medical equipment worth over US$62.770 (about Rwf38million) was donated to Ruhengeri District Hospital in the Northern Province two weeks ago by the same US Centre.
The equipment donated include: primarily diagnostic and therapeutic equipment, Laboratory equipment such as a spectrophotometer for chemistry tests, a rapid hemoglobin machine, and 10 Glucometers for rapid determination of blood sugar on the hospital wards.
Some equipment is to improve diagnostic capabilities, such as two clinical ultrasound machines with the capability of obstetric, gynecologic, abdominal, and cardiac ultrasound, 4 handheld otoscope/ophthalmoscope instruments, 3 fetal heart-tone detectors, and 3 pulse oximeters for those with respiratory problems, and a computer-based electrocardiogram.
Additional equipment to improve the care of newborns included an IV infusion pump, an enclosed neonatal incubator, a procedure table with warmer, and a fetal monitor to help monitor the wellbeing of high risk babies in the last stages of pregnancy and through delivery.