On Friday, February 21, 2025, Ruli Higher Institute of Health (RHIH) awarded diplomas to 100 students during its eighth graduation ceremony.
The event was marked by a Mass officiated by Antoine Cardinal Kambanda, Archbishop of Kigali and the Chancellor of the institution.
The ceremony was attended by a host of dignitaries, including the Mayor of Gakenke District, Mrs. Vestine Mukandayisenga, Father Prof. Fidèle Dushimimana, the Vice Chancellor of ICK, as well as parents, students, and other invited guests.
Along with awarding diplomas, Cardinal Kambanda blessed newly built guesthouses for visitors, teachers, and students, a move aimed at improving the school’s infrastructure and operational efficiency.
The 100 graduates received undergraduate diplomas in nursing and midwifery,
In his address, Cardinal Kambanda reminded the graduates of their significant role in safeguarding human life. He urged them to recognize their profession as a divine responsibility, emphasizing that caring for others’ health is a noble task requiring wisdom from God.
Antoine Cardinal Kambanda, Archbishop of Kigali and the Chancellor of RHIH
“You, who care for life, have a great responsibility to lead goodness in people’s lives, to care for them, and to preserve them. This responsibility requires wisdom from God because life is a precious gift,” he stated.
He also addressed the importance of upholding ethical practices in healthcare, condemning harmful actions such as abortion, hastening death on the bed, among others. “When a person loses the wisdom of God, this is where it leads,” he remarked.
Furthermore, Cardinal Kambanda urged young women, particularly those who find themselves unexpectedly pregnant, to embrace repentance and choose life, highlighting that “life and the blood of the innocent always receive God’s mercy.”
He encouraged medical professionals to seek divine wisdom in their practice, aiming for holistic care that addresses both the body and the soul.
The ceremony also featured remarks from the Mayor of Gakenke, who expressed pride in the institution and its graduates.
Mrs. Mukandayisenga praised the collaboration between the Government of Rwanda and the Church in establishing the school, noting that it is the only higher learning institution in the district.
Mrs. Vestine Mukandayisenga, Mayor of Gakenke District
She also highlighted the ongoing efforts to address local healthcare needs, referencing the government’s 4×4 program, which aims to train more healthcare professionals.
“The number of graduates is not enough to meet the needs in Gakenke District, as currently, the district requires 103 nurses and midwives. However, with the 4×4 program, we are confident the shortage will be resolved in the near future,” she said.
Father Dr. Innocent Dushimiyimana, the Vice Chancellor of RHIH, commended the Ministry of Health for its support in providing scolarships to students pursuing nursing and midwifery, ensuring a brighter future for the profession.
He also noted the school’s collaboration with 41 health centers across the country.
Father Dr. Innocent Dushimiyimana, the Vice Chancellor of RHIH
RHIH was founded by the Archdiocese of Kigali in 2001 as a secondary school, ESSA Sainte Rose de Lima. It officially began offering advanced diploma in nursing and midwifery in 2013 and was granted permission to offer bachelor’s degree programs in these fields in 2022.
Since its establishment, the institution has produced over 1,000 nurses and 72 midwives, with 83 nurses and 17 midwives joining the workforce this year alone.
