ACREOL Global

From Fulbright at Harvard to Community Impact

Webmaster — 2026-03-23T07:51:46Z

⁉️What does hashtag freedom really mean?

At the U.S. Embassy Kigali's Freedom 250 Alumni Symposium, our Executive Director, Dr. Christian Ntizimira, a Fulbright alumnus and Harvard University graduate, delivered a keynote that reframed freedom not as an idea, but as a responsibility.

From his Fulbright journey to advancing Palliative Care across Africa, he reminded us: global learning must always return home, to serve communities, strengthen health systems, and protect dignity.

Freedom is the ability to care, and to build systems where compassion isn't optional.

“Exchange programs are not travel opportunities, they are responsibility multipliers”…. He concluded the keynote speech.

🥳Congratulations to all the outstanding alumni recognized for driving transformative change.

Thank you, U.S. Embassy Kigali, for convening leaders committed to innovation, impact, and service.

“Une classe. Une leçon d'humanité.”

Webmaster — 2026-03-20T09:00:00Z

Il n'est jamais trop tôt pour apprendre à reconnaître sa souffrance… et à choisir l'empathie. Merci à la classe de Mme Dominique Cellis et à l'école Polaris #Rwanda pour ce moment d'#humanité autour du Concept de Safari. 📘

Parler de la souffrance, c'est déjà prendre soin. Merci pour cet échange intergénérationnel qui élève notre compassion. Empathie FinDeVie

Les élèves m'ont offert une nouvelle lecture de mon propre livre. Comme quoi, l'humanité s'apprend à tout âge. Merci encore à l'éco'e Polaris & Mme Cellis et à Manzi de l'ins'itut français pour le partage. 📘✨

“One class. One lesson in humanity.”

It is never too early to learn how to recognize one's own suffering… and to choose empathy. Thank you to Ms. Dominique Cellis's class and to Polaris School Rwanda for this moment of humanity around "The Saf“ri Concept”. 📘

Speaking about suffering is already a form of care. Thank you for this intergenerational exchange that elevates our compassion. End of Life Empathy

The students offered me a new reading of my own book. A reminder that humanity can be learned at any age. Many thanks again to Polaris School, Ms. Cellis, and Manzi from the French Institute for sharing this moment. 📘✨

The University of British Columbia Meets ACREOL Global 🇨🇦🤝🇷🇼

Webmaster — 2026-03-18T09:00:00Z

When global perspectives meet local realities, learning goes both ways.

Perspectives from the University of British Columbia (UBC) met the realities of palliative care in Rwanda during a visit to the ACREOL Global office by Dr. Sarah Broder, Respirologist/GIM, Clinical Assistant Professor at UBC, and a Medical Director of Palliative Care from Canada who has been in Rwanda working with the clinical teaching units at University Teaching Hospital of Butare (CHUB).

Her experiences at CHUB and hearing about Dr. Christian Ntizimira's work in Palliative Care sparked a curiosity to connect firsthand. During the visit, she witnessed how palliative care in our context values culture, family, and Ubuntu philosophy in caring for patients and their loved ones.

If you're in Kigali and passionate about palliative care, drop by our office!

Celebrating Women at ACREOL Global

Webmaster — 2026-03-08T09:00:00Z

@acreolglobal 💖Celebrating Women at ACREOL Global 🌸 Behind the work we do every day are women whose dedication, compassion, and strength help move palliative care forward. Today, we celebrate you and the many ways you shape our work and our mission. 🥳Happy International Women's Day 2026! 💬 In one word, how would you describe a woman who inspires you? Share it with us in the comments👇🏾 #InternationalWomensDay #ACREOLGlobal #iwd #goviral ♬ original sound - ACREOL Global

Behind the work we do every day are women whose dedication, compassion, and strength help move palliative care forward.

Today, we celebrate you and the many ways you shape our work and our mission.

🥳Happy International Women's Day 2026!

Claire Karekezi, MD

Webmaster — 2026-02-10T22:04:00Z

Dr. Karekezi is a Consultant Neurosurgeon at the Rwanda Military Hospital, Kigali, Rwanda. She graduated as a Doctor of Medicine from College of Medicine and Health Sciences at the University of Rwanda, in 2009. Dr. Karekezi completed her neurosurgery training and graduated as a Neurosurgeon in 2016 from the Mohamed V University, World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS)-Rabat Training Center for African Neurosurgeons, Rabat Morocco. Dr. Karekezi has further enrolled in several neurosurgical fellowships with a special interest in Neuro-Oncology and Skull Base Surgery: at the Brigham and Women Hospital/Harvard Medical School (2016), and completed a Clinical Fellowship in Neuro-Oncology & Skull Base Surgery at the University of Toronto, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Canada, (2017-2018) Dr. Karekezi is Rwanda's First Female Neurosurgeon. She serves as the Chairperson of Women in Neurosurgery Africa (WIN-Africa), section of the Continental Association of African Neurosurgical societies (CAANS) from August 2019 and is a member of multiple National and International Neurosurgical organizations.

Raissa Teteli, MD, M(Ped)

Webmaster — 2026-02-10T22:00:00Z

Dr. Raissa Teteli is the senior pediatrician and allergist-immunologist at Dream Medical Center, a private hospital in Kigali, and a physician advocate for access to pediatric palliative care in the public health system. Dr. Teteli received her undergraduate and master's degrees in pediatrics from the College of Medicine and Health Sciences at the University of Rwanda (UR). After completing her pediatric residency at UR, she worked at one of the biggest referral hospitals in Rwanda (CHUK) in the neonatology unit, where she was also the head of the unit. Her passion for palliative care started while managing extremely premature babies and babies born with congenital diseases and abnormalities. A holistic approach to palliative care in the management of sick babies and anxious families was paramount.

Dr. Teteli is an expert clinician whose frontline experience in the rapidly evolving Rwandan health system has provided rich and credible commentary on innovations in pediatrics, mostly neonatology and health service delivery in Rwanda. Dr. Teteli has contributed to the post-conflict rebuilding of Rwanda's health system following the 1994 genocide. She served on key Ministry of Health working groups that spearhead health systems development in the country, including the Pediatric care technical committee, leading the Rwanda immunization technical advisory group, mentorship in different district hospitals in the country, etc.

Dr. Teteli, being among the Rwandan pioneer's trainers in pediatric palliative care and also in emergency triage assessment and treatment (ETAT), her passion for sick children pushes her to always keep up with pediatric up-to-date research on the quality of life even during life-threatening illness by alleviating suffering through the treatment of pain and relief of physical, psychosocial, and spiritual problems in Rwanda.

Emmanuel Musoni, MD, Psychiatrist

Webmaster — 2026-02-09T22:01:00Z

Dr. Emmanuel Musoni Rwililiza is a distinguished psychiatrist with a global reputation for his expertise in various psychiatric disciplines, encompassing treatment for both inpatients and outpatients, migrants and refugees, as well as palliative care and community mental health. Dr. Musoni's extensive experience is marked by several influential roles, notably as the Chief Medical Officer at UNAMID-SORTONI Camp in Darfur, Sudan, the Clinical Director at Masaka District Hospital in Rwanda, Chief Resident in Psychiatry at the University of Rwanda, and a Medical Doctor in the Department of Mental Health and Psychiatry at the University Hospitals of Geneva.

He has also served as a clinical mentor of psychiatry in Rwanda's Eastern Province and provided mentorship in mental health clinical practices for 13 district hospitals in the Eastern Province and Kigali City. In addition, Dr. Musoni has contributed his expertise as a mental health consultant and researcher for the Canadian Humanitarian Health Ethics research group and Partners in Health-Rwanda. His contributions in the field of mental health have earned recognition from the World Health Organization (WHO), where he serves as a mental health expert. He has participated in two notable missions: as a mental health expert for the migration health team in Sudan in 2019, and as a child and adolescent mental health expert for the joint WHO-UNICEF program in Brazzaville, Congo Republic in 2023.

Dr. Musoni's commitment to mental health was ignited during his medical school years, leading him to establish the Medical Mental Health Association in 2005. Through this organization, he launched various initiatives, including the Mental Health Empowerment Project in Rwanda's Southern Province, aiming to enhance mental health awareness and psychoeducation.

Dr. Musoni is at the helm of the Department of Mental Health at the University Teaching Hospital of Kigali (CHUK). Here, he also leads the CASPAR clinical study as the Principal Investigator, which is assessing the treatment efficacy of paliperidone palmitate for schizophrenia in Rwandan healthcare settings, a study sponsored by Johnson & Johnson. Furthermore, he is in the final year of his Ph.D. at Aarhus University, Denmark, focusing on clinical research related to Psychoeducation for bipolar disorder patients in Rwanda, with his defense scheduled for April 2024.

As a lecturer, Dr. Musoni imparts his knowledge and experience to students at the University of Rwanda's Department of Psychiatry. Additionally, he holds the position of Deputy Clinical Chief in Liaison Psychiatry at the Hospital of Sion, affiliated with the Hospital of Valais in Switzerland.

Dr. Musoni is renowned for his exceptional interpersonal and organizational skills, which have been crucial in effectively managing mental health clinical services and administrative responsibilities. His skill in research and analysis has been instrumental in developing innovative programs that aim to improve healthcare systems, ultimately providing better services to the community.

Advancing expertise in Palliative Care

Webmaster — 2026-02-09T08:05:07Z

We're glad to share that our Consultant Dr. Raissa Teteli recently took part in the Jennifer Smorgon Scholarship Masterclass for Clinicians from Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs).

The masterclass offered space to deepen knowledge in Pediatric Pain Management, the knowledge that will be carried back into daily practice, shared with colleagues, and translated into care that listens more closely to children and families.

As Senior Pediatrician and Allergologist, Head of department of Pediatrics at FRONTIER POLYCLINIC &DIAGNOSTIC CENTER, and Consultant at ACREOL Global, this learning experience adds another layer to her ongoing commitment to caring for children with skill, empathy, and attention.

We celebrate this step and what it reflects about learning that serves palliative care.

Simeon Turatsinze, MD, MSc (MGHD)

Webmaster — 2026-02-08T08:07:00Z

Dr. Simeon Turatsinze, MD, MSc (MGHD)
Medical doctor and clinical researcher with interest in global health delivery, and healthcare systems strengthening. He currently serves as Senior Clinical Researcher at the University of Rwanda (UR), Associate editor at Rwanda Journal of Medicine and health science (RJMHS), and is an Internal Medicine Senior Resident. He has led and contributed to peer-reviewed research published in journals including African Journal of Emergency Medicine and The Lancet, and he is actively engaged in advancing evidence-based care, clinical education, and research capacity building in Rwanda and beyond.

Dr. Bénithe Himbazwa

Webmaster — 2026-02-08T08:06:00Z

Dr. Bénithe Himbazwa is an MBBS graduate from the University of Global Health Equity, Rwanda where she is also pursuing Masters in Global Health Delivery, health management track as part of the MBBS/MGHD program at UGHE. She aspires to become a global health leader who advocates for equitable healthcare access with a deeper interest in global health, oncology and non communicable diseases. Having served as the UGHE Students Research Society Chairperson, Director of Mentorship in the Research Mentorship and Training Program, and an OHMO Global Research Fellow; she is committed to evidence-informed decision-making and leveraging research to drive equitable and sustainable health outcomes.