RWANDAN COVID-19 TREATMENT FACILITIES RECEIVE 16 PORTABLE PATIENT MONITORS FROM TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT BANK (TDB) Kigali, October 9th 2020 – The Eastern and Southern African Trade and Development Bank (TDB) has donated 16 portable patient monitors to Rwanda Biometric Center (RBC) as part of its contribution to the Ministry of Health to combat the Covid-19 pandemic in Rwanda.
The portable patient monitors were handed over during a ceremony which took place on the 9th of October at the Rwanda Medical Supply Warehouse, by, on behalf of TDB, Mr. Regis Rugemanshuro, Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB) Director General and shareholder representative on the TDB Board of Governors, to Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana, Director General of the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC).
The portable patient monitors – locally procured from Sana Medical Stores Ltd. – will serve to monitor Covid 19-affected adults and paediatric patients in COVID-19 treatment facilities.
“These monitors come in handy and because of their nature-they will contribute greatly to the fight against COVID-19, the aspect of helping paediatric patients was well thought of as well, RBC is grateful for such contributions,” said Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana, RBC Director General.
“While Rwanda has been fairing very well in its fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, with strong prevention and mitigation measures in place, as well as high number of tests proportionally, it is important to keep boosting the country’s capacity, particularly in terms of equipment, so that its health care system continues to deliver in a context of increased demand” said Regis Rugemanshuro, RSSB Director General and shareholder representative on the TDB Board of Governors.
“We are pleased to accompany the Government of Rwanda in its efforts to mitigate the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic” said Admassu Tadesse, TDB President and Chief Executive. “This is part of our broad response plan which, in addition to direct assistance as such via our Covid-19 Emergency Response Programme (CERP), also incorporates a series of financing interventions for financial institutions, sovereigns and enterprises, to help them cope with the shocks of the pandemic”.
Mary Kamari, TDB Corporate Affairs and Investor Relations Executive added that “through CERP, TDB provides, among other interventions, locally manufactured or procured PPEs and equipment – as it is the case in Rwanda. The objective of programme is to support healthcare systems, at the same time as local private sector and employment, whenever possible. Over and above CERP, the Bank extended a USD ½ million grant to the African Union’s Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).”
According to data from the Rwanda Biomedical Centre, since COVID-19 outbreak in March, Rwanda has recorded 4,866 confirmed cases, 3,216 recoveries and 29 deaths due to the global pandemic. The Government of Rwanda and partners have put in place strong preventive measures that include mass testing. To date, over 504,670 tests have been conducted in an effort to curb the spread of the virus.
About TDB
Established in 1985, the Eastern and Southern African Trade and Development Bank (TDB) is a multilateral, treaty-based, investment-grade development finance institution, with 40 sovereign and institutional shareholders and assets of USD 6.7 bn. TDB serves 22 economies in its region, with the mandate to finance and foster trade, regional economic integration and sustainable development.
www.tdbgroup.org
About RBC
Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC) is the nation’s central health implementation agency. RBC was established in 2011 through a merger of fourteen key health institutions. RBC strives to improve the health of the Rwandan population by providing high quality, affordable and sustainable health care services. This is accomplished through the implementation of preventative, rehabilitative, and curative health interventions. RBC conducts scientific research, provides diagnostics services, and implements innovative health interventions to protect the nation against diseases and other health threats.
www.rbc.gov.rw
Media Contacts
Anne-Marie Iskandar, Senior Communications Officer
Corporate Affairs and Investor Relations
Trade and Development Bank
Anne-Marie.Iskandar@tdbgroup.org
Malick Kayumba
Rwanda Health Communication Centre/ Rwanda Biomedical Centre
Tel: +250 788 350 035
malick.kayumba@rbc.gov.rw
