It’s been another successful trip to Rwanda for a group of local health care volunteers. This is the third year that the group, “A Partnership in Caring”, has provided training, support and supplies to a university teaching hospital in Butare, Rwanda. Recently, 989 News Director Ken Kingston, spoke to a member of the group that travelled to Rwanda this year, Carolyn Rideout.

A group of health care volunteers from Antigonish, Nova Scotia have just returned from their second trip to Rwanda. The group is called A Partnership in Caring. Recently, X-FM Radio’s Ken Kingston spoke to the chairperson of A Partnership in Caring, Maria van Vonderen.

University Central Hospital of Butare is a 500-bed rural hospital that serves a population of 2.2 million. It is under resourced, yet trying hard to improve conditions for delivery of care. As a result of the lack of resources, patients in hospital rely entirely on the care of family for such things as food, water, and bedding. Those without family will receive one meal a day from community volunteers. Mattresses are torn, broken-down, and contaminated. Many patients don’t have access to basic needs, like soap or toothbrushes.