A team of medical practitioners from Mercy Hospitals Oklahoma USA, are on the week- long visit in Rwanda to identify areas of cooperation.
The team visited Kacyiru Police Hospital, on June 27, 2013, where they were received by the Inspector General of Police Emmanuel K. Gasana.
Mr. Eric Pianalto, who led the group, said they are in the country to identify areas in healthcare for a “long term partnership.”
“We are here to strengthen the partnership that already exists between Oklahoma and Kigali city, but this time in healthcare to improve the health of citizens in the two sister cities and countries in general,” Mr. Pianalto said, shortly after a meeting with the IGP.
“We want to partner with four hospitals in Kigali, including the police hospital,” he explained.
Other hospitals are Kanombe, Muhima and Kibagabaga.
The Director of Kacyiru Police Hospital, Commissioner of Police Dr. Daniel Nyamwasa said the two hospitals are scheduled to conduct a research in healthcare to identify areas of cooperation.
This partnership comes to strengthen the already existing partnership between the City of Kigali Oklahoma City following the signing of a memorandum of understanding in 2010 to partner to explore educational, economic and cultural opportunities.
There has also been a long standing partnership between Oklahoma Christian University and the Government of Rwanda which begun in 2006 when President Paul Kagame visited the university.
As a result, a number of Rwandan students have secured scholarships at the U.S-based University.
Oklahoma University also plans to open a campus in Kigali.