A LONG-TERM HUMANITARIAN INITIATIVE

The Héron House is above all our visiting card in Rwanda. It ensures the continuity of our missions thanks to permanent experts on site but also allows us to forge links with the local population and our partners. At the end of its construction, scheduled for mid-october 2022, it will be able to welcome you, specialists of vision and hearing, in its midst to participate in our initiative.

Its objectives

• Continue while trying to improve on what we have been able to do so far,

• Contribute to the development of screenings and consultations in order to reduce the number of people affected by visual or hearing problems,

• Promote operations when they are necessary and to distribute optical and auditory equipment when they provide assistance to those who need it,

• Training (coaching, seminars, scholarships, etc.)

• Equip with efficient and useful equipment to support our Ophthalmologist and ENT partners.

• Be part of Rwanda’s modernity and to make this realization the calling card of the Foundation in Rwanda.

• Contribute to achieve the Vision 2025 established by the Ministry of Health in the fields of Ophthalmology/ ENT/ Hearing and Optics, notably in the prevention sector.

ITS HIstory

At the beginning of July 2020, the Fondation Héron, whose MOU signed in July 2018 for two years was expiring, applied to the Ministry of Health for its renewal.

Willing to actively participate in the Vision of the Country on all topics that touch on the areas of competence of the Fondation Héron (optics, optometry, ophthalmology, hearing aids and protections, hearing and hearing, etc.) it was decided to create within two years the Maison de la Fondation Héron (former nursing school to be rehabilitated) within the walls of the Kibungo hospital.

At the end of August, Jonathan Abittan and Laurent Branckaert went to Kigali and Kibungo to discuss the plans with the architects and to validate with the management of the MOH, the HRK but also the local authorities the choice of architecture, the plans, the number of m², etc.

In December of 2021, a meeting between architects from Rwanda and those attached to the Fondation Héron was organized to share plans, validate costs, ensure permits, meet potential entrepreneurs, etc.

The facility consists of a one-storey building of approximately 370 sqm organized in 3 main areas: the entrance and staff area; the clinical area; the external units.

The detailed program is the following:

• Entrance with waiting area

• Reception and mutuelle registration counter

• Pharmacy

• Pre-screening room

• Atelier for devices reparation

• 2x ophthalmology consultation rooms

• 1x Optometry consultation room