Hope For Survival Against Covid-19 Crisis For Rwamagana Needy Population

By Elias Hakizimana.

Needy families who are affected by Covid-19 crisis in Rwamagana District, Eastern Province regained hope to survive the pandemic effects as they receive food commodities and sanitary materials support by the coalition of Civil Society Organizations (CSO).

The move is under the ongoing project implemented by the coalition of four organizations namely: Strive Foundation Rwanda (SFR), Rwanda NGOs Forum on HIV/AIDS and Health Promotion (RNGOF on HIV/AIDS & HP), Health Development Initiative (HDI) and Ihorere Munyarwanda Organization (IMRO) with funding support from the European Union (EU).

The support was handed to 267 beneficiaries on July 2, 2020 in Kigabiro Sector, Rwamagana District

Claudine Mukamana, a young mother from Kigabiro Sector in Rwamagana District said she is hardly surviving the crisis of coronavirus with her two children because her work places which are pubs and night clubs are still closed due to the strong measures to reduce new Covid-19 infections.

“It is not easy to find food, life is bitter!” she said, adding that getting a daily meal is not a successful deal one can anticipate.

“We used to try pubs and night clubs before COVID-19, now, the situation is not easy, I can sometimes call a friend via mobile phone to give me little money to buy food for my children. This support comes on time, it will help me stay at home comfortably for some days,” she added.

Joselyne Mushimiyimana, 20, became a mother of a child at 17 years old. Having dropped out of school with pregnancy, the mother struggled to start a new life as her parents abandoned her. She told this newspaper that she used to live out part time jobs like construction but she is now jobless.

“I could manage to buy food for my son but I am jobless, this support is paramount to me, I will pass days and nights in a safe environment because no food, no life,” she said.

Beneficiaries are from four Sectors namely Kigabiro, Muhazi, Gishari and Munyaga. The project targets 500 people from 11 sectors in Rwamagana District.

The government of Rwanda encourages development partners to further existing social development measures in combating COVID-19 and help most affected people to recover from the crisis caused by the pandemic.

Jacques Ndayisenga, project manager at Strive Foundation Rwanda, specifically working in three districts namely Rwamagana, Ngoma and Gatsibo said that this support is complemented by advice-based guidance for sustainable living conditions to help citizens respect the measures to prevent covid-19.

“With the initiative of peer education among different formed groups these key populations belong to, we sensitize them on how to adopt and uphold the habit of saving, be it a little from what they earn which will guide them onto social development. This will help them to avoid quite often dependence and stay at home safe.” Ndayisenga said.

Nooliet Kabanyana, Executive secretary of Rwanda NGOs Forum on HIV/AIDS and Health Promotion highlighted the importance of this project dedicated to vulnerable people.

“We thought about how some people in this time of COVID-19 have no income, then as civil society we committed to give hand to the government in terms of helping the most vulnerable families with food and hygiene materials.” She noted.

Jeanne Mutoni, vice mayor for social affairs in Rwamagana District welcomed the move.

“This support contributes a lot to what the District has under consideration regarding the wellbeing of citizens. We still have a number of families which are in vulnerable situations due to COVID-19 effects, but we consider them in our plans ahead,” Mutoni said.

elias.theinspirer@gmail.com