Background
The shortage of some health workers that Rwanda has
faced in the last decade or so is largely traced to the 1994 genocide
against Tutsi. Many health professionals were killed while others fled
the country. Consequently, post genocide era has had a critical
doctor/patient ratio. The sector considerably depended on volunteer
organizations. To respond to these challenges, the ministry vowed to
transform Rwanda’s health sector through their main goal which is to
provide and continually improve the health services of the Rwandans
through the provision of preventive, curative and rehabilitative
healthcare. This goal has been in line with the streamlined strategies
set by the government in order to reduce poverty and to enhance the well
being of the population incorporated in vision 2020 and Poverty
Reduction Strategy Paper.
It was against this background that government
sought to transform the health sector through developing human resources
professionals in the field of health and strengthening national
referral hospitals, treatment and research centers led to the birth of
Kigali Health Institute on June 5, 1996.
KHI Progress
In its early foundation, the Institute had three
departments which are general nursing, anesthesia and physiotherapy with
a total enrollment of 98 students. By then, the institute was offering
advanced diplomas only. Gradually, with the support of the government of
Unity and different donor institutions, new programs were introduced
and the number of departments increased to ten. Also, some of the
programs namely Nursing Sciences, Physiotherapy, Biomedical laboratory
sciences, Anesthesia, Dental therapy and Environmental health sciences
were upgraded to the Bachelor’s Degree.
As a response to the government’s call to
revolutionize the service sector, KHI has embarked on various strategies
that will see service delivery taken to another level. The graduates of
the institute are a living testimony to their efforts to transform the
health sector
Sixteen years after its establishment, Kigali Health
Institute has made impressive strides in training efficient health
professional for Rwanda. So far the institute has graduated over 3000
students ranging from nurses, dentists, laboratory technicians,
radiologists, anesthetist technician, psychiatric nurses,
physiotherapists, midwives, Ophthalmic clinical officers and
environmental health professionals.
The Institute has made significant achievement in
upgrading the advanced diploma level to full bachelor’s degree in dental
therapy, physiotherapy, general nursing, biomedical laboratory
sciences, medical imaging sciences and environmental health sciences.
Also introduced, is a post graduate professional certificate in
counseling in partnership with The Regional Aids Training Network (RATN)
which fights the HIV/AIDS pandemic through creating capacities in
different institutions with Kenya Association of Professional
Counselors. The institute has also developed a Master’s Program in
Critical Care and Trauma Nursing, and recently the Master degree in
Health Informatics has been started. Likewise, in order to meet the
urgent need for need for primary healthcare particularly in the rural
areas a new Bachelor’s degree program in Clinical Medicine and Community
Health along with Bachelor’s degree in Human Nutrition and Dietetics
commenced in the academic year 2011/2012. The Orthopedic technology
program has also recently started to cutter for great need for orthotics
and prosthetics in Rwanda.
With support of partners, a dental skills laboratory
and a dental clinic were established whereby KHI trainees have been
able to do practical training using dummies before starting to deal with
patients. Other clinics and services created include physiotherapy
clinic and the Medical laboratory both of which offer services to the
public and training facilities to the students,
Apart from training, most of these programs have
research, consultancies services, and outreach activities that fall
within the KHI mandate in responding to healthcare challenges Rwanda is
facing. Having considered the achievements made, KHI has recently been
awarded as the “Best healthcare educational institute in Africa 2011” in a ceremony that took place
in Mauritius on 14th December 2011 by the World Education Congress
& Asian Confederation of Businesses. Specifically, the institute was
recognized for its innovation, academic and leadership model as well as
the supreme objective of training healthcare professionals at the
international standards.
Future Plans
Despite the institute’s achievements, KHI plans to
turn its challenges into opportunities by increasing the capacity of the
faculty through further training and research mentorship, introducing
new programs as well as short courses to cater for the needs of the
practitioners to engage in continuous professional. It is envisage with
these endeavors, KHI shall be generate considerable income in order to
reduce the budget deficit. Effort are made to attract more development
partners to engage in academic human resources development, research and
quality assurance of healthcare services.
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