Nine Rwandan postgraduate surgical residents, who are training on hernia surgery emphasize that this training is essential in enhancing their knowledge, which will enable them to provide quality healthcare to patients suffering from this condition.
This training is being held at Rwamagana Level Two Teaching Hospital by the Ministry of Health, in partnership with Rwanda Legacy of Hope – a Rwanda faith based organisation, from Friday, September 26, to Tuesday, October 7, 2025.
It will be conducted in two parts: theory and practice, with the trainees benefiting from different techniques for hernia surgery, including traditional methods and laparoscopic surgery, which allows patients to return to work much more quickly than with traditional surgery.
Hernia is a medical condition in which an internal organ or tissue pushes through a weak spot or opening in the muscle or connective tissue that normally holds it in place.
Dr. Nteziyaremye Balinda Vicky Oni and Dr. Maniriho Belancille, who are among the trainees, affirm that training on hernia surgery is an important opportunity to enhance the quality of healthcare they provide to patients suffering from hernia.
“We have many patients who come to our hospitals suffering from hernia, so by learning how to perform this surgery properly, we are addressing a major health challenge.” said Dr. Balinda
Dr. Bellancille emphasized that “In Rwanda, we already perform surgeries for hernia, but when specialists like these come to train us, we gain new techniques, learn to use modern technologies, and carry out procedures that are evidence-based.”
One of the trainers, Prof. Majid Bassuni, a consultant surgeon, also emphasized the importance of this training, given the progress made in hernia treatment over the years.
“The speed by which the progress is made is massive and the continuous education and continuous participation of everyone in the world in training is the only way to guarantee success,” he said.
Rwamagana Level Two Teaching Hospital, is one of the hospitals at which the doctors will conduct the practical part of their training. The Director General of this hospital, Dr. Placide Nshizirungu says that this is a great opportunity for them, as they have many patients waiting for this type of care.
“For example, this week we have more than 72 patients who will undergo treatment for hernia. This is very beneficial, both for our population and for our medical staff.” He said.
Rev. Osee Ntavuka, Chairman and Founder of Rwanda Legacy of Hope, says that they are now focus on training because “when doctors come only to treat patients and then leave, their knowledge does not remain in the country, and in that case we are not building anything sustainable.”
Chris Oppong, the Medical Director of Rwanda Legacy of Hope, emphasises that “We want to bring them to a level of competence so that they can perform the operation themselves with little or no supervision, to help people of Rwanda.”
The training of Rwandan doctors by Rwanda Legacy of Hope will also be conducted at CHUK, CHUB, Gahini, and Kibagabaga hospitals in various specialties, including neurosurgery, gynecology, ENT, and neuropathology.
Since 2011, when Rwanda Legacy of Hope started this program of training for Rwandan doctors, they have trained up to 450 participants.
