and Agnes Binagwaho( L)
sharing a light moment with Nigeria's Ambassador to Rwanda,
Fidelis Ayogu (C) yesterday. (Photo J Mbanda)
BY JAMES KARUHANGA
KIGALI - The Nigerian government through its
Health Technical Support Progamme,
Technical Aid Corps (TAC) will send
to Rwanda 63 medical experts
to work as volunteers in Rwanda.
The first batch of 32 medical experts was
received yesterday by officials from
the Ministries of Health and Foreign Affairs.
The Nurses and Doctors are part of
Nigeria's Technical Aid Corps (TAC),
a volunteering programme set up
by the Nigerian government in 1987.
The last batch of 31 medics is expected
in country in January and the group
hopes to windup its tour of duty in 2011.
Speaking during the occasion to receive them,
Nigeria's Ambassador to Rwanda
with residence in Kampala, Fidelis Ayogu
underscored his country's commitment
to assist fellow African nations.
"We are now saying that the best thing
for us is to go Africa, professionals are scarce
in all countries, even in the US.
We don't have them in abundance
but we have to sacrifice.
They will be here for two years and,
it's a government to government affair,"
Ayogu said.
While welcoming the group to Rwanda,
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health,
Dr. Agnes Binagwaho, noted that
the earlier group of medical volunteers
from Nigeria had been exemplary,
and guaranteed them utmost hospitality.
"Let me assure you Mr. High Commissioner
that they were perfect ambassadors,
not only perfect ambassadors for Nigeria
but perfect ambassadors for Africa,
and perfect ambassadors
for the health sector," Binagwaho said.
Nigerian Nurses and Doctors
first started volunteering
in Rwanda, in 2000.
Binagwaho said that this year,
government wants the team to focus
on the education sector,
especially training Rwandan nurses.
Funded by the Nigerian government,
TAC currently operates
in 20 African
and Caribbean Pacific countries.
Link here
Ends
--
J-L K
Sent from Kigali, Rwanda
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