Rwandan peacekeepers helping CAR expectant mothers

A mother helped by Rwandan troops is grateful

Ifeimoua Emmanuela successfully gave birth to a healthy baby in Bangui, Central Africa Republic. With insecurity and lack of health facilities, Ms Ifeimoua Emmanuela was helped by Rwanda Defence Forces medical officers and then evacuated to Castol Hospital in Bangui capital. She lives in one of the feared locality in Bangui in Ngaragba localty, fifth Arrondissement.

The expecting mother came at Socatel Mp’oko, the Rwanda peacekeepers barracks, to seek for assistance. She was received by Rwanda Peacekeepers medical officers who immediately attended to her, and then evacuated her in military ambulance to the nearby medical facility, Castol Hospital where she successfully gave birth. Her life and her child were in danger if not assisted by the peacekeepers.

It was smiles and joy on 23 November 2014, when Ifeimoua Emmanuela came with her newly born baby to express her profound thanks to Rwanda peacekeepers at Socatel Mp’oko barracks.

Ifeimoua Emmanuela said that this is a gesture of gratitude and recognition of what Rwanda peacekeepers did to save her life and that of her child. She said this was done in a danger zone where people fear to travel because of poor security.

The Rwandan peacekeepers regularly conduct such medical assistance to local people in Bangui.

In another development on 20th November 2014 Rwanda peacekeepers received a letter from local citizens in 3rd Arrondissement, in Bangui whereby locals thanked the peacekeepers for efforts to stabilize their area. They said that this has enabled them to enjoy security and organized sports events for reconciliation under protection of the Rwanda peacekeepers. The letter written in French was also copied to the High Authorities of Central Africa Republic.

Rwanda Peacekeepers have brought new approach in peacekeeping missions in the world where aggressive peacekeeping ensures protection of civilians. The use of Rwanda’s homegrown solutions such as “Umuganda” community work has been introduced, cultivating civil-military good relations as one way of achieving peacekeeping mandate.

Rwanda is the fifth biggest Troop Contributing Country in the world and maintain 5000 troops in different UN missions in UNAMID in Sudan, UNMISS in South Sudan and MINUSCA in Central African Republic.