Immaculate Kankindi, 25, would have delivered her fourth child by the roadside or most probably lost her life and her baby had it not been for a police officer who saw her struggling with labor pains along the street in Kigali and rushed her to hospital.
Her husband had abandoned her months back while her family kept insisting that she should go back to her spouse – a situation that left her life-ruined and in dilemma yet she was expecting.
The damning situation made her get stuck between Nyagatare District where she lived with her husband and children, and Rulindo District where her relatives live.
Kankindi’s plight started about seven months ago when unfortunate circumstances started unfolding in her life, when her husband left her for another woman, leaving her helpless to support their three children and the pregnancy.
To be able to support her children and raise money for rent, she had to work as a casual laborer.
“My situation got worse, when I was about seven months pregnant. My landlord evicted me after i failed to pay rent (Rwf5000 per month) yet I had nowhere to go. I moved to my husband’s house but he couldn’t let us in, so I lived in the bushes and shrubs around the house for weeks,” she narrates.
She later decided to leave Nyagatare District and go live with her sister in Rulindo District but still she was not much welcome because of her big family the sister could not afford to take care of.
“I always delivered my children from Rulindo but this time, my sister gave me money to return to my husband and deliver from there. Upon reaching Kigali City, I failed to get a connecting bus to Nyagatare since all drivers refused to take me depending on my situation – I was in labour and it was visible that I would give birth any moment.”
Desperate and in deep labour pains, Kankindi loitered around Kigali city waiting for fate to take its course. She had lost all hope although she was due any minute, yet she didn’t know a single person to call for help.
Hell broke loose for her when two of her children started got hungry and started crying. They hadn’t eaten or drunk anything for the last 12 hours.
Savior arrives
On August 14 at night, Kankindi was found by a police officer on duty around Kinamba, found her in labor and immediately rushed her to Kacyiru Police Hospital.
Kankindi gave birth to a baby boy few hours with the help of doctors.
Together with her children, Kankindi has since been getting all services and sheltered at the hospital, including footing all the medical bills.
“When I was brought to this hospital, doctors ensured that I deliver my baby boy well; but they also provided a separate room for my children, they fed them and brought clothes for them,” a joyful Kankindi narrates.
“I cannot express how thankful I am for the support Police has accorded to me. I had lost hope and a savior came to my rescue. Every day, I see my children playing and laughing, and that as a parent, means a lot.”
“I want to go back to Nyagatare to see if I can start a new life and see if I can find the father of my children and amend fences with him.”
The whereabouts of her husband are not known apparently, according to Police.
However, the hospital management said its working out a plan that would ensure her safety and that of the children.
The Director of Kacyiru Police Hospital, Commissioner of Police Dr. Daniel Nyamwasa, said; “beside what we provided for her, we have decided to take her to Rulindo where she will be supported under the custody of her relatives.”
CP Nyamwasa condemned the conduct of Kankindi’s husband for abandoning his responsibilities, both as a man and father.
“Local leaders should always monitor closely issues related with domestic misunderstandings,” he said.
Kankindi will now join her sister and her eight-year old first born in Rulindo District.
Kacyiru Police Hospital is a referral for gender based violence victims, and houses the maiden Isange One Stop Centre, which was established in 2009 to offer free services that include medical, psycho-socio and legal services to victims of GBV.
The centre has received over 10, 000 victims of GBV since its inception.
It has since been scaled up to 23 district hospitals under the ongoing decentralisation programme of the centre.
Police also established other twelve health centres across the country as part of its campaign to promote and support towards health development in the country, which also contributes to community safety and security