The centre of excellence in Kigali\u2019s budding health hub in Masaka, began offering courses on Monday, October 2.<\/p>\n
Its management plans to train 500-1000 surgeons every year.<\/p>\n
The over $32 million IRCAD Africa facility is part of a partnership of global research and training institute IRCAD France known for its expertise in laparoscopic surgery, which was founded by French surgeon Prof. Jacques Marescaux in 1994.<\/p>\n
The Rwandan government built the more than $20 million facility while IRCAD France brought in equipment worth more than $12 million.<\/p>\n
IRCAD Africa becomes the fifth IRCAD centre in the world and the first fully-fledged medical facility in the 100-hectare Kigali Health City, which will also host Rwanda\u2019s largest hospital, CHUK, a heart treatment centre, medical schools, pharmaceutical centres, and modern laboratories.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe role of IRCAD Africa is to democratise minimally invasive surgery,\u201d said Marescaux who is in Kigali for the centre\u2019s official opening on Saturday, October 7.<\/p>\n
The state-of-art facility in Masaka in Kicukiro District, IRCAD Africa becomes the fifth IRCAD centre in the world and the first fully-fledged medical facility in the 100-hectare Kigali Health City<\/p>\n
Marescaux, who was initially reluctant to build an IRCAD centre in Africa, said he changed his mind when he witnessed Rwanda\u2019s technological infrastructure and ambitions, the country’s healthcare plans and strategic location.<\/p>\n
\u201cWithout the support of the government, IRCAD Africa would not have been possible,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Though based in Rwanda, Marescaux said the research and training centre, which uses robot technology in training, will serve the whole continent.<\/p>\n
In the next three to five years, the centre could train thousands of professionals annually.<\/p>\n
The Rwandan government built the more than $20 million facility while IRCAD France brought in equipment worth more than $12 million.<\/p>\n
Its management plans to train 300 surgeons every year.<\/p>\n
The first course which began earlier on Monday was attended by 60 surgeons from across the African continent.<\/p>\n
\u201cDuring the preparation and design of this facility, few people believed that IRCAD Africa would be a reality,\u201d said Minister of Health Dr Sabin Nsanzimana.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis centre is going to change how we train our professionals. Once people are trained here, we want to see this technology scaled not only in Rwanda but also to the whole of Africa,\u201d said Nsanzimana.<\/p>\n
He said minimally invasive surgery would reduce the cost of medical services.<\/p>\n
The New Times understands that African countries are in contact with the Rwandan government and IRCAD Africa to send their professionals for training at the centre.<\/p>\n
IRCAD Africa becomes the fifth IRCAD centre in the world and the first fully-fledged medical facility in the 100-hectare Kigali Health City<\/p>\n
The over $32 million IRCAD Africa facility is part of a partnership of global research and training institute IRCAD France<\/p>\n
IRCAD Africa becomes the fifth IRCAD centre in the world and the first fully-fledged medical facility in the 100-hectare Kigali Health City<\/p>\n
Inside the main auditorium<\/p>\n
The newly constructed facility is positioning the Rwandan capital as the continent\u2019s future health hub.<\/p>\n
The over $32 million IRCAD Africa facility is part of a partnership of global research and training institute IRCAD France<\/p>\n
IRCAD Africa becomes the fifth IRCAD centre in the world and the first fully-fledged medical facility in the 100-hectare Kigali Health City<\/p>\n
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