RDF treated over 119,700 patients out of targeted 143,000 under its citizen outreach programme for 2018
By The Inspirer staff
A total of 10, 852 patients were consulted and treated of medical conditions of the ear, nose, and throat (ENT), and 307 of them underwent surgery; while 40,390 men were circumcised through prepex – a non-surgical circumcision, and surgery, thanks to the medical outreach services offered under the Rwanda Defence Force citizen outreach programme for 2018 (RDF COP 18).
ENT is under orhinolaryngology – a surgical subspecialty within medicine that deals with conditions of the ear, nose, and throat.
Overall, RDF treated over 119,700 patients out of targeted 143,000 under its citizen outreach programme for 2018.
The medical outreach services offered under the RDF COP 18 were concluded on 31 July 18, 2018 as earlier planned with its set target achieved at 83.7% due to financial constraints, RDF said through a statement released on August 2.
Giving details about the medical services it offered, it said that 17,245 patents got consultation and treatment in the area of ophthalmology – medical and surgical eye disease – whereby 559 patents got eye surgery.
In dental consultation and treatment, it performed surgery to 1,171 among 15,305 patients consulted and treated patients.
Also, 9,357 patients were consulted and treated, with 417 among them having surgery under orthopedics – branch of surgery for organ system that gives humans the ability to move using their muscular and skeletal systems.
Also, consultations and treatment were made for 10,407 patents, among whom, 895 underwent surgery.
While measures to address similar limitations in the future are being addressed, RDF observed, the impact of medical services was significant considering the number of patients treated and the period in which they were carried out.
“This part of the RDF COP 18 gave the opportunity to patients in remote areas, those with serious medical cases and the vulnerable to get free treatment be treated, all for free,” the statement reads.
As of now, the publication further says, the RDF COP 18 has made tremendous achievements in improving the well-being of Rwandans in line with one of Rwanda Defence Force’s missions is to participate in humanitarian activities in case of disasters and to contribute to the development of the country as provided in article 10 of the law determining the force’s mission, organisation and powers.
In his speech in Muhanga District (Horezo Model Village) during the 24th National Liberation commemorations on 4 July 2018, His Excellency Paul Kagame, President of the Republic and Commander-In-Chief of RDF emphasised that “The liberation struggle on the battlefield succeeded because those who were fighting worked with citizens. It is this spirit of unity that we want to maintain in order to transform this country.”
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