Kigali, 22 August 2019

The just concluded Medical Readiness Exercise (MEDREX) of the ongoing Exercise Shared Accord 19 provided medical care to 337 Rwandans; 139 surgeries were performed by a joint medical team from the United States Army Africa and Rwanda Defence Force over the past two weeks at Rwanda Military Hospital (RMH), Kanombe.

At the closing ceremony of the medical practice at RMH, Brig Gen Ephrem Rurangwa who presided over the event on behalf of the Rwanda Defence Force Chief of Defence Staff noted that the Medical Readiness Exercise was an opportunity to share experience that shall cement the existing bilateral cooperation between the Defence Forces of the United States and Rwanda.

“What you have been doing here is a process that not only improves the experience of our medical military doctors but it also fits into the general framework of Exercise Shared Accord. This is also an opportunity to cement the existing partnership between our Defence Forces”, Brig Gen Ephrem Rurangwa, the RDF Chief of logistics said.

Reinforcing the existing partnership between Rwanda and the United States was also echoed through the closing remarks by the acting Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in Rwanda Mr Tony Pate. He underscored that the medical exercise conducted by the military medical professionals strengthened the strong partnership between the Government of Rwanda, US and Partners.

“Medical exercise such as this one plays an essential role in maintaining the health and mentality of the soldiers that ensures regional security”, he said.

The Exercise Shared Accord 19 Co-Director Brig Gen Lapthe Flora speaking at the closing ceremony of the MEDREX said that the US Army Africa value working with Rwandan Professionals. “we value every opportunity to train and work with Rwandan Medical Professionals”, he said.

For the last two weeks Medical Professionals of the Two Defence Forces have been working jointly at RMH departments of orthopaedics, ICU (Intensive Care Unit), obstetrics and gynaecology, internal medicine and dental.