Rwanda Nurses Saving Lives - A Rotary Vocational Training Team Global Grant

Rwanda Nurses Saving Lives is a Rotary vocational training team global grant being conducted in Rwanda in 2024-2025.  The purpose of the project is to train front-line, health center nurses who operate in remote areas without physician support in the early detection of strep throat to prevent the development of rheumatic heart disease.  The project has been piloted in Rwanda and a three-person team is now engaged in implementation through five district. hospitals that whose catchment area covers about 10% of the country.  The instructional team includes two doctoral level nurse practitioners who are advanced practice cardiology nurses and Venters who serves as the grant direction and co-evaluator for the project.  This team will move this project to Zambi in 2026.

Dr. Cassy Venter's professional career was with the University of Missouri Extension Service Small Busienss Development Centers where she served in business and leadership develpment roles.  During that time, she served for thirteen years and director of a leadership exchange program with the Ministry of the Interior of the Royal Thai government.  In Rotary, she has served as a District Governor, District Rotary Foundation Chair, Youth Exchange Outbound Coordinator, Rotary Youth Leadership Coordinator, Group Study Exchange Leader, Kansas City Plaza Rotary Club president and she currently serves as District 6040 Peace and Conflice Resolution Chair and the communications chair of the Kansas City Plaza Rotary Club and grants chair of the Lander Wyoming Rotary Club.