As construction at the Regional Rusumo Falls Hydroelectric Project progresses to 62% as of April 2020, NELSAP-Project Implementation Unit (PIU) is implementing the Local Area Development Program (LADP) which has prioritized development projects in health, education, vocational training, roads, agriculture, water and livestock sectors in districts surrounding Rusumo project in Burundi, Rwanda and Tanzania. These initiatives are part of the USD 15 million benefit-sharing components of the Rusumo project where each country is receiving USD 5 million worth of projects.
Key among these is the Kigina Health Centre in Kirehe District of Rwanda that was completed and inaugurated on 6th June, 2019. The project has built major functional blocks for maternity, outpatient, pharmacy, observation, nutritional and voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) services. The facility also received a new power generator, incinerator facilities for medical waste management among others.
“My wife once delivered on the roadside as we tried to reach Kirehe Hospital, but it was too far from my home, however, with Kigina Health Centre that is well equipped, my dream of a nearby quality health facility has come true,” says Fulgence Barihuta from Rwanteru Cell. The health centre is serving more than 10,000 people in Kigina and the neighboring sectors. In Ngoma District, the project has paved 9.54 km of Kigabiro-Rurenge-Gatore road, constructed 28.7 km of mixed water pipeline supplying for people of Gatonde-Gahima cells and is now completing the construction of 33km Gituku-Murama water supply system to supply communities of Rukira and Murama Sectors.
“The now functional Cyagasenyi-Gasarabwayi-Nganda 30 km feeder road in Kigarama and Musaza Sectors, is another landmark for our community and we thank the Rusumo project for that,” said the Mayor of Kirehe District Mr. Gerald Muzungu.
<<My wife once delivered on the roadside as we tried to reach Kirehe Hospital, but it was too far from my home, however, with Kigina Health Centre that is well quipped, my dream of a nearby quality health facility has come true,” says Fulgence Barihuta from Rwanteru. >>
In Ngara District of Tanzania, LADP is completing rehabilitation of four water supply systems in Rusumo village and Lemela vocational training center. The Program is also rehabilitating Lukole Health Center where it is completing construction of an administration block, outpatient department (OPD) operating theatre, pharmacy building, mortuary and maternity ward and new building facilities for Rusumo dispensary in Kyenda Village. The Program is leveling up education sector by rehabilitating dormitories, pit latrines, classrooms, administration blocks, teachers’ houses, science laboratory rooms for five schools namely Bukiriro Secondary School, Makugwa Primary School, Rusumo Primary and Secondary Schools, Ngoma Primary School, Mumiterama Secondary School in Nyamwaga Village. LADP Tanzania is also enhancing livestock and bee keeping intensification and agriculture farming.
Burundi LADP is working to bring access to clean water for communities of Giteranyi and Busoni communes, in Muyinga and Kirundo Provinces, establishing water conservation projects, building administration offices for both communes and constructing Youth Training Centers.Construction works are having a major positive impact on social economic development of Rusumo area and is employing more than 600 skilled and casual laborers most of them coming from areas surrounding the construction sites such Kirehe in Rwanda, Ngara in Tanzania and Giteranyi in Burundi.