Noel Mushinzimana is a student in the University of Rwanda-College of Medicine and health sciences. He is the co-founder of Nursing research club and current head of department of awareness and community engagement activities. He’s also a YALI Alumnus Cohort 47, a junior researcher, poet and graphic designer.
Nursing research club was founded in 2021 within the University of Rwanda -Rwamagana Campus by Noel with his two partners Etienne Numviyumukiza and Jean Claude Barahirwa.
The nursing research club is a youth led organization that carries out research on different heath problems like non-communicable diseases, mental health issues, HIV/AIDS infection, teen pregnancies, etc. «We also conduct community engagement activities that are research based and nursing profession awareness in Rwanda », Noel says.
Some of the activities they do include; bimonthly screenings of non communicable diseases, Adolescent reproductive health trainings, preparation of conferences and symposiums.
While carrying out research as undergraduate students they faced problems of low research skills , lack of platforms for dissemination of data and lack of support, motivation and funds to facilitate sessions and conducting research projects.
In spite of all the challenges they never stopped working which made them the leading research institution in the nursing profession in Rwanda.
Nursing Research Club has just carried out a big Nursing research symposium on 11th May. “We’re looking forward to hosting an international nursing conference for nursing students from the East African countries in 2024 », Noel underlines.
Ange Vicka Izere