Operation Hernia Volunteers have already had a tour of the hospital and was joined later by a team of German volunteers, from Surgeons for Africa charity, also working in collaboration with Rwanda Legacy of Hope. Surgeons for Africa is a German charitable foundation that aims to improve healthcare and standards of living in AfricaDr Deborah ABIMANA, Nyarugenge District Hospital's Director General , giving visitors a tour of the Hospital and showing them facilities within

“Other than surgical operations that will be conducted for people with hernia cases, through the mission, trainees will be able to enhance their practical skills in managing such cases and other surgical skills, while having an opportunity to work with experienced surgeons in operating surgical cases”, says Dr Chris Oppong, Operation Hernia’s chairman and Medical Director at Rwanda Legacy of Hope.Dr Chris Oppong, Operation Hernia’s chairman and Medical Director at Rwanda Legacy of Hope here pictured with his fellow Doctor, Dr David Sedgwick

The mission is also expected to stimulate an increase in the number of Doctors capable of handling hernia cases since the trained Doctors will contribute to training their fellow Doctors while the public will benefit from the surgeries that will be performed during the mission.

The mission is a long-term project involving other medical sectors comprising Neurosurgery, Ear Nose and Throat, Plastic surgery and Orthopedics, all of which have previously been part of Operation Hernia’s missions.

This time an experienced consultant obstetrician and gynecologist Dr Rekha Shrestha along with an Operating Department Practitioner, Alison Hobbs are collaborating with and supporting the O&G team at Nyarugenge. This will benefit the expectant mothers and ladies with gynecological conditions and help to up-skill the local health care professionals.

Theoretical training for the current mission has been conducted through different webinars in April 2021 while practical sessions were due to be held in October of the same year but got shifted to April 2022 due to COVID-19 Outbreak.

Founded by Osee NTAVUKA, a Rwandan born Pastor, Rwanda Legacy of Hope is a local organization based in Rwanda that was established in 2011 with the purpose of supporting Social Welfare Programs in Rwanda, improving living conditions, providing better educational, and healthcare training opportunities.Reverend Osee NTAVUKA, the Founder and Legal Representative of Rwanda Legacy of Hope

Since its establishment, Rwanda Legacy of Hope has been involved in different volunteering activities that comprise Educational, Social and Health projects

On the other side, Operation Hernia is a UK based charity that focuses on supporting Doctors with trainings related to hernia repair and other surgical operations.

The charity has previously worked with other hospitals like Kigeme, Ruhango, Nyamata, Gahini, Shyira, Rwamagana and Kilindi Hospitals, as well as Kigali and Butare University Teaching Hospitals among others.

The Charity, as on previous occasions, is working with the post-graduate surgical training program of the University of Rwanda, through its Director and the Head of surgery at Kigali University Teaching Hospital, Prof Faustin NTIRENGANYA, in providing trainings for its post-graduates Residents at Teaching Hospitals as part of their Curriculum.

The work that is performed by Operation Hernia is all voluntary, and visiting teams are very grateful for the collaboration with and support from Rwanda Ministry of Health in taking care of its team’s logistics including local accommodation, transportation and other mission related costs.