COVID-19 Treatment Center set-up brought new hopes for refugee and host communities in Rwanda.

When Bahati, 40, a refugee in Kigeme refugee camp fled conflicts in eastern DRC eight years ago, she was faced with the difficult task of adjusting to a life of displacement in Rwanda.

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“It was not easy as we left everything behind to save our lives,” says the Congolese refugee and mother of three.

Worse still was the fact that she was among people who tested positive for  COVID-19 in August 2020, which put the whole family into an isolation site in Nyamagabe for three weeks.

“I was terrified when medical doctors took me with my three children, I felt like my life came to an end,” she says. “I told my neighbors that I was going to die because we heard on the radio that the COVID-19 situation in the world was worsening.”

Bahati was living a decent life with her family in Kigeme refugee camp until the global coronavirus pandemic endangers everyone on the planet including refugees living in Kigeme, particularly those who tested positive.

While most positive cases were treated in their neighborhood, close to their families, allowing them feeling optimistic and safe, this was not the case for refugees and Rwandans living in Nyamagabe who were isolated at some 70 kilometers away from their homes in Rusizi district and others in a secondary school – until a few months ago.

“In only few days, the number of positive cases were raising, unable to get a proper place to treat them. People were, then, temporarily transferred and treated in a nearby secondary school,” says Mujawayezu Prisca, Nyamagabe Vice Mayor in charge of social affairs.

But thanks to support  from the United States, through the Department of State’s  Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, UNHCR constructed a COVID-19 Treatment Center in Nyamagabe district, which changed the lives of refugee and host communities who tested positive afterwards. The United States was the largest donor to UNHCR’s operations in Rwanda in 2020.

“We thank the UN Refugee Agency and the U.S. Government for the precious support they have provided to us,” says Prisca. “They responded quickly, and it enabled us to treat and stop the spread of COVID-19 within our community.”

The center, which aims to provide improved healthcare services to both Rwandan nationals and Congolese refugees, has ensured that people like Bahati get a promising treatment and get well again.

“We were treated well and came back home safe and sound, and we felt self-assured as our families were near the center. We thank God for the blessings of getting this treatment center here,” she says with a smile.

During uncertain times of Coronavirus pandemic, accessibility of crucial services in health at the treatment and isolation center in the neighborhood brings quick recovery and solace for vulnerable people in camps and hosting communities.

“So far, we have treated 120 people at the center, of whom 25 were refugees. All patients have now been discharged, but the center is on stand-by because Coronavirus is still out there,” says Richard Ewila, Head of UNHCR’s Huye Field Office.

“We have seen optimism and warmth in the hearts of patients of this treatment facility. The therapy provided included being cared for close to their friends and families,” he says. “We thank the U.S. Government for their support in setting up this center. It helped us to treat and heal people.”

UNHCR in Rwanda continues to step up health, water, sanitation and hygiene services to protect more than 145,000 refugees in refugee camps, urban areas and transit centres. UNHCR continues to work with the Government of Rwanda, which leads the coronavirus response, to ensure that refugees and asylum seekersare included in national COVID-19 preparation and response plans.

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