Palliative Care Project, Gikondo Health Centre, Kigali

Gikondo Health clinic (PEFA) has a 2-prong approach:

1. Health education, disease prevention and screening
2. Home based palliative care programme.                                 

The building used for the clinic is a disused orphanage building quite near to the church. Now that we have made the access safer with some metal railings, it is quite suitable.

Covid – 19 has seriously affected the project because visits from UK have been impossible since Jan 2020 when Marje visited with Sharon (a trained nurse) and her husband Rob. The plan was to employ a nurse to supervise the care of our patients, monitor the visits, when allowed, and support the volunteers.

Patients enjoying an Arts and Crafts afternoon at the centre

We thank God that a specialist palliative nurse came to our attention who Marje had worked with on previous visits. She agreed to work for us on a part time basis and it has proved to be a great success - one of the benefits of lockdown in some ways. She has helped significantly in medical issues and necessary medicinal treatments and building on the foundations.

A man who received the free colostomy bags from UK

Our challenges with regard to paying the nurse's wages and the costs of basic food, medicines and medical supplies has increase but we are so grateful for our faithful supporters.

We hope to visit Rwanda again when circumstances permit.

One of our patients so grateful for all we can help her with

Terminally ill woman with gifts that will make her daily life more comfortable.

Picture of a typical little home where patients with terminal illnesses are living.