On Thursday, March 04, 2021, the Vice Chancellor of Rwanda Polytechnic Dr. James GASHUMBA alongside the Africa One Health University Network (AFROHUN) Country Manager Dr. Juvenal KAGARAMA visited IPRC Huye to discuss various ways of partnership between both AFROHUN and IPRC Huye. The Principal of IPRC Huye Maj. Dr. Barnabe TWABAGIRA welcomed them and affirms that this collaboration is of much worthy for students and academic staff.

In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor of Rwanda Polytechnic Dr. James GASHUMBA reminded that everything is interconnected. That is why there is a need of everyone’s contribution to solve all challenges that human beings, animals and environment encounter.

“You can say that you teach ICT, Civil Engineering and so on and think that this is not your domain. Moreover, you should remember that everything is interconnected: Human beings, environment and animals. The wellbeing of all of them needs everyone’s involvement.” Dr. James GASHUMBA, VC of RP

The AFROHUN Country Manager Dr. Juvenal KAGARAMA says that this Organization wishes to expand its doors from Universities to TVET Schools like IPRC Huye to ensure that all forces are joined together for the advent of One Heath Workforce Next Generation.

“The members of this network are exclusively Universities, Institutions. With the advent of One Health Workforce Next Generation, our duty is to move outside the university walls and extend our partnership into other institutions beginning with Vocational Institutions like you and also intend to invite cooperation and partnership from private sectors, civil society because one health is not a one-man’s issue, it is everybody’s concern. That is why we need to be all inclusive.” Dr. KAGARAMA Juvenal added

On behalf of the entire IPRC Huye Family (Students, administrative and academic staff), the Principal confirms that the Institution is ready to collaborate with AFROHUN.

“This will help the academic staff and students to open their network through AFROHUN. I see that seventeen (17) Universities are part of AFROHUN. I hope that from today, IPRC Huye also will be part of them and this is our wish. Definitely, because we are with our Vice Chancellor, I am sure this will happen because He is the one who always encourages us to open our minds and doors to other people because we are not landlocked. We should work with others to gain lots of things.” Says Maj. Dr. Barnabe TWABAGIRA, Principal of IPRC Huye

AFROHUN was born from LIPHEA (Leadership Initiative for PH in East Africa). Later on, visionary leaders (Deans in the HEALTH ALLIANCE and Vet Medicine) convened and agreed to create a new common network that came to be called OHCEA (One Health for Central and East Africa). It is in 2019 that OHCEA expanded in scope and as it was no longer regional but continental network, it became AFROHUN (Africa One Health University Network). Its vision is to be a global one health leader championing sustainable health for humans, animals and environment.

Public Relations and Communication Officer / RP-IPRC Huye