Having grown up without proper medical care, many ORI students face a heightened risk of disease. In 2006, ORI helped establish a health clinic at Gisimba Memorial Center, where ORI currently supports a full-time nurse to provide basic consultations, treatment and medications. This year, the nurse conducted health check-ups for all students at Gisimba and will continue to do so twice annually. ORI has also arranged gynecological training for the nurse, to better enable her to address issues concerning pregnancy and reproductive health.

To help its orphanage partners tackle the threat of malaria, ORI installed insecticide-treated bed nets for every child at both Gisimba and the Village de la Paix. Malaria can be potentially deadly if untreated, and its recurrences interfere with the children’s education. Addressing this problem helps students to focus on their studies and helps orphanages protect their children.

ORI also offers regular psychosocial support and counseling to help students overcome challenges related to mental health. To date, ORI has conducted an assessment of students’ mental health and run the first of a series of trauma healing workshops. ORI has also partnered with the Rwandan Association of Trauma Counselors (ARCT) to provide individual and group counseling for students.