Je suis Dr KAVIRA MALIRO Valence, de nationalité Congolaise. Je suis née à Goma ou j’ai grandi, puis fait mes études en Médecine à l’université catholique de Bukavu(UCB). J’ai ensuite travaillé dans un projet belgo congolais dénomméAFIA SHULENI, ayant pour objectif d’améliorer les résultats scolairesdes enfants en leur assurant une bonne santé.Pendant ce temps, nous avons constaté que bon nombre d’enfants ne bénéficient pas de la consultation pré- scolaire avant de commencer l’école maternelle voir même primaire. J’ai fait partie de l’équipe chargée d’examinerdes enfants dans différentes écoles pour détecter des pathologies inconnues ou ignorées par les parents. Nous avons rencontré plusieurs problèmes. J’étaisparticulièrement impressionnée par le nombre des enfants ayant des problèmes oculaires, mais surtout affectée par le fait que nous ne pouvions pas les aider parce que nous n’étions pas suffisamment équipés pour faire face àces problèmes. Nous étions alors obligés de transférer les enfants dans des centres des soins oculaire pour une meilleure prise en charge. Malheureusement cela prenait beaucoup de temps et les enfants rataient leurscours car les ophtalmologues sont peu nombreux dans la région, ils n’arrivent pas à couvrir le besoin de toute la population.C’est ainsi que j’ai senti le besoin de faire quelque chose, et en moi est né le désir de plus en plus grand de faire des études en Ophtalmolgie, qui m’a motivé de passer un stage dans un centre oculaire, et mon désir s’est transformé en une passion.Trouver la voie vers Rwanda International Institute of Ophthalmology (RIIO) a été pour moi une grosse opportunité d’accomplir mon rêve. Je saisis cetteopportunité pour exprimer ma gratitude pour la chance que RIIO m’accorde de faire de mon rêve une réalité.En tant qu’étudiante en première année, j’ambitionne de faire partie des meilleurs et grands ophtalmologistes, motivés par l’excellence, et toujours auservice de la population pour prévenir et éradiquer la cécité dans nos communautés et partout dans le monde.
I am Dr. IMANIRIHO Jean Damascene, an RIIO resident working to become an ophthalmologist. I have been working as a general practitioner in Rwandan public and private hospitals, located in rural and urban regions, for four years before joining RIIO. I am driven by helping people in need. After being treated for an ocular condition while doing my first year of medical school, I remarked how vision impacts people’s lives and decided to become an ophthalmologist. For me, vision is equivalent to live. The first-ever residency program of ophthalmology in Rwanda made my dreams come true. Not only because it was a nearer program but also it was started by brave, successful, and very senior ophthalmologists. These ones who get the international awards; the ones who have both ophthalmology and education as their passion; the ones making excellent research to impact patients’ lives. I had never seen such inspiring doctors before knowing RIIO. This attraction is also linked to the fact that RIIO is training under COECSA. From RIIO, I hope to become a good ophthalmologist treating both medical and surgical eye conditions. In addition, I will learn to do excellent research and practice evidence-based medicine. After RIIO training, I will give my contribution to improving people’s quality of life through eye care starting with my country, Rwanda. I hope to decrease, by working with my seniors and colleagues, the level of preventable and treatable blindness in Rwanda and Africa. Through research and publication, my contribution to education will be at a considerable level. Further training like subspecialty is always under consideration in order to provide the maximum care to my patients.
My name is Eric MANIRAKIZA. I’m a Burundian Medical doctor and First-Year Ophthalmology resident at RIIO. After completing my studies at Hope Africa University in Burundi, I got a chance to work at VAN NORMAN clinic, which is the Clinic run by the same University where I got the opportunity to practice my medical career. After 3 years of practice, I got a great opportunity to be admitted to the Ophthalmology Residency Program at Rwanda International Institute of Ophthalmology (RIIO) which is the most accurate Institution in the region concerning its good purpose and values. I believe that through the education and training provided by RIIO, I will be among the future successful generation of ophthalmologists produced by RIIO, who are ready to give their contribution to their different countries and the region in general, especially in preventing avoidable blindness in the population of Africa.
My name is David NGABO, Medical doctor, First Year Ophthalmology resident at RIIO. It has always been a dream of mine to be a solution orientated person, through that I always think about how I can contribute to the community. Finally, I realized that my passion is to help improve health by helping people with disabilities especially blindness to improve their quality of life. Joining the ophthalmology residency program at Rwanda International Institute of Ophthalmology(RIIO) is an opportunity for me due to the fact that RIIO has a dedicated team with different expertise and is ready to train young professionals. I believe that through this perspective, I will become a promising ophthalmologist, ready to provide a tremendous contribution to my country and in the region, especially in strengthening eye health care, education, and Research.
I am Dr. Gilbert NSHIMIYIMANA.I am one of those who think that one of the greatest gifts that God gave man is “SIGHT”.I strive to provide and maintain quality eye care services and that has always been my dream. Rwanda is one of the developing countries suffering from blindness specifically avoidable blindness due to many factors, one of them being few trained eye care specialists (ophthalmologists). By Joining RIIO, my dream did not only come true but also I strongly believe it will enable us to take quality eye health solutions to the next better level.
I am Elie, a Rwandan medical doctor. I have been observing the burden of blindness specifically avoidable blindness across the world but mostly in the developing world and found that blindness and eye care, in general, are still marginalized hence they are among the most devastating conditions for health. So, I thought about bringing my contribution to this noble cause. As Mandela said, “education is the only weapon we can use to change the world” for me too, ophthalmology education was the only weapon I could use to beat blindness as well as take eye care to the next level; so I joined RIIO to fully prepare myself to this; RIIO is not only the home institution but also I consider their expertise in the field of ophthalmology as an added value to fulfilling my objectives.