The physique of late Dr Paul Farmer, founding father of College of International Well being Fairness (UGHE) and co-founder of Companions in Well being (PIH), was on Thursday, February 24, repatriated to his native United States following a personal remaining farewell ceremony that was held in Kigali.
President Paul Kagame alongside First Woman Jeannette Kagame joined his widow, Dr Didi Bertrand Farmer, and household in addition to associates and colleagues of the deceased to grieve the “immeasurable world affect of his life”.
His physique left Kigali Worldwide Airport Thursday night time.
Farmer, described by many world wide as a world well being icon, breathed his final early this week on February 21, ‘peacefully’ in his mattress, in keeping with a tribute.
In Rwanda, he was affectionately known as ‘Muganga Mwiza’ (the nice physician), an attribute from his life-long humanitarian actions.
“Muganga mwiza’ was a pricey buddy to many,” First Woman Jeannette Kagame tweeted. “He leaves a bottomless gap in too many individuals’s hearts; a gap as large as his love for all and each human.”
“His legacy lives on. Might his soul Relaxation In Peace,” she added.
This night, President Paul Kagame and First Woman Mrs Kagame joined household and associates of Dr Paul Farmer for a personal remaining farewell.
— First Woman of Rwanda (@FirstLadyRwanda) February 24, 2022
For practically 20 years, the 62 12 months outdated had been concerned in Rwanda’s public well being care in a number of capacities together with curbing maternal and associated mortalities, doctor coaching and medical analysis.
Amongst his flagship initiatives embrace Companions in Well being, regionally referred to as ‘Inshuti mu Buzima’ in Rwanda, which helps the nation in efforts to attain well being targets, together with maternal mortality, entry to major healthcare, rising doctor to affected person ratio, amongst others.
The initiative additionally works with a number of establishments to offer prime quality medical care in three hospitals, together with Butaro Most cancers Centre of Excellence, based mostly in Burera District.
Different services run by the organisation embrace Rwinkwavu Hospital and one other one in Kirehe District.
Farmer has typically been termed as a buddy of Rwanda and was in 2017 awarded the Nationwide Order of Excellent Friendship by President Paul Kagame.
Who’s Dr Paul Farmer?
Farmer was the founding father of UGHE, which goals at coaching the subsequent technology of worldwide well being professionals dedicated to offering equitable healthcare for all in Africa and past, with a give attention to essentially the most weak.
In August 2021, the college established the African Advisory Board, co-chaired by the First Woman Jeannette Kagame, which goals at making simpler regional efforts to enhance the standard and amount of the healthcare workforce and supply, to information the way in which ahead for the establishment’s strategic improvement and construct healthcare methods in Africa and different components of the world.
Farmer was recognised throughout totally different international locations for his a number of well being initiatives.
For example, in Might 2009, he was named Chair of Harvard Medical College’s Division of International Well being and Social Drugs.
In December 2012, Farmer was appointed because the United Nations Particular Adviser to the Secretary-Normal on Neighborhood Based mostly Drugs and Classes from Haiti.
His works additionally prolonged to being the Editor-in-Chief of the Well being and Human Rights Journal.
He’s survived by his spouse and three kids.
eashimwe@newtimesrwanda.com
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