As Rwanda prepares for the 32nd commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC) has unveiled a nationwide mental health response plan to ensure swift support for individuals likely to experience trauma during the remembrance period.
The plan includes the deployment of trained personnel ranging from community health workers to volunteers, tasked with providing immediate psychological assistance at commemoration sites across the country.
The announcement was made during a joint briefing bringing together RBC and key partners, including AVEGA and IBUKA, focusing on coordinated mental health interventions for Kwibuka32.
Dr. Darius Gishoma, Head of Mental Health at RBC, said dedicated support rooms have been established at various memorial sites to respond to trauma cases in real time.
“Each commemoration site will have a designated space to support individuals experiencing trauma. Where necessary, ambulances will be on standby to transfer patients to health facilities for further care,” he said.
Figures from last year’s commemoration indicate that trauma cases were largely concentrated among adults aged over 31, who accounted for 90 percent of reported incidents, compared to 10 percent among younger individuals.
Kigali City recorded the highest number of cases at 699, followed by Eastern Province (667), Southern Province (597), Western Province (520), and Northern Province (183).
Nationwide, a total of 2,666 trauma cases were documented during the previous Kwibuka period, underscoring the continued need for robust mental health support systems during commemoration activities.
