On Thursday, August 29, 2024, Bishop Balthazar Ntivuguruzwa, the Bishop of Kabgayi Diocese and Chancellor of the Institut Catholique de Kabgayi (ICK), inaugurated the newly established Health Sciences Program, which includes Nursing and Midwifery programs.
The event commenced with a Holy Mass led by Bishop Balthazar at the Kabgayi Minor Basilica, accompanied by senior ICK officials, and attended by the broader ICK community, including lecturers and students.
In his address, Bishop Balthazar expressed deep gratitude for the return of the Nursing and Midwifery programs to the location that once hosted St. Elizabeth Secondary School of Nursing and Midwifery.
He remarked, “In the years 2020 and 2021, there was a recurring phrase, ‘the birds are about to return.’ It was a wish and a prayer. We thank God for answering our prayers, as the birds have indeed returned.”
The birds (inyoni) symbolized the nursing and midwifery students at St. Elizabeth.
The restoration of these programs fulfilled a longstanding wish of Bishop Smaragde Mbonyintege, now retired, who envisioned the revival of the St. Elizabeth facilities, which had been dormant for over five years.
These facilities last served the University of Rwanda’s nursing and midwifery education in 2017. Bishop Mbonyintege entrusted the project to Bishop Balthazar Ntivuguruzwa, who was the Vice-Chancellor of ICK, to lead the initiative of seeking approval for the programs and acquiring necessary resources.
The project came to fruition in September 2023, when the Ministry of Education granted ICK the authorization to launch the Nursing and Midwifery programs.
Bishop Balthazar Ntivuguruzwa highlighted the significance of integrating the Health Sciences Program with the Kabgayi Hospital, which had recently been upgraded to Level II teaching Hospital and continues to expand and modernize its facilities.
Addressing the students enrolled in the Health Sciences Department, Bishop Balthazar urged them to be inspired by the rich history of St. Elizabeth School, which has produced many healthcare professionals across the country.
He encouraged them to uphold high standards of conduct, knowledge, perseverance, spirituality, brotherhood, and love to preserve the distinguished legacy of St. Elizabeth.
Explaining why ICK sought to establish the Health Sciences Program, Fr. Prof. Fidèle Dushimimana noted that it aligns with the Catholic Church’s mission to enhance the well-being of Rwandans.
He stated, “ICK was established by the Kabgayi Diocese to provide solutions to the challenges faced by the country in the aftermath of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. The initial programs at ICK focused on the general welfare of the population, but it became evident that more was needed. This realization led to the introduction of the Education Faculty in 2018, yet the need for more remained. Consequently, in 2020 and 2021, ICK embarked on the journey to establish the Health Sciences Program to contribute to the health sector, in line with the Church’s mission.”
To further advance the Health Sciences programs, Fr. Prof. Dushimimana revealed plans to expand the Nursing and Midwifery facilities in September 2024, enabling them to accommodate up to 1,000 students.
Additionally, he disclosed the intention to apply for accreditation to offer the Bachelor Degree in these programs, allowing students to continue their studies at ICK.
Both the Kabgayi Diocese and ICK extend their gratitude to the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health, USAID Ireme and other partners for their continuous support in promoting the Nursing and Midwifery programs at ICK.
Since the Health Sciences Program’s inception nearly nine months ago, ICK has already enrolled 281 students.
