4 September 2019 | The Adventist School of Medicine of East-Central Africa (ASOME) was inaugurated in the Gasabo district of Kigali, Rwanda, this Monday. Rwanda’s head of state, President Paul Kagame, accompanied by First Lady Jeannette Kagame, opened the institution which is owned by the Adventist University of East-Central Africa.

Elder Ted Wilson, president of the General Conference of the Adventist Church, was also present at the event with his wife, Nancy Wilson, and other denominational officials.

Region Week reported that the school building which has, so far, cost USD 16 million to build, will house classrooms, laboratories, staff rooms, dining facilities and even hostels.

“By fulfilling your pledge to establish a medical school serving East and Central Africa, you have reaffirmed your commitment to a productive partnership that benefits not only Rwanda but the entire region. This is very much appreciated,” said Kagame, thanking the denomination for its investment.

“The achievement we are celebrating today is in tune with Rwanda’s goals. Educations, particularly in science and technology, as well as good affordable healthcare, are the foundation of the well-being and prosperity of our citizens,” said the head of state.

Kagame also congratulated the Adventist Church as it celebrated one hundred years of existence in the country. He said that over the course of the last century, the church had been “a valued partner of government in the provision of healthcare and education.”

The new medical school will welcome its first students in January, when 55 students are slated to begin their studies.

According to the denomination’s Office of Archives, Statistics and Research, there were 1,846 Adventist churches and a membership of 879,197 in Rwanda as of June 30, 2018.

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