Kigali, Rwanda and San Francisco, USA – 25 January 2026 — Bio Usawa congratulates the Rwanda International Institute of Ophthalmology (RIIO) on an outstanding 2025 marked by major academic, clinical, and institutional milestones.

RIIO’s achievement as the first institution in Africa to receive Advanced Level accreditation from the Ophthalmology Foundation represents a major milestone for ophthalmology training on the continent, affirming that African institutions can meet and define global standards of excellence.

The renewed accreditation of RIIO’s residency program by the College of Ophthalmology of Eastern Central and Southern Africa (COECSA), alongside its continued leadership in regional and continental professional bodies, reflects a deep and sustained commitment to workforce development and quality eye care.

"Their (RIIO's) commitment to training specialists, advancing innovation, and reaching underserved communities is exactly the kind of leadership needed to close Africa’s eye care gap sustainably," said Dr. Menghis Bairu, CEO and President of Bio Usawa.

Through innovative training models, international collaboration, and extensive community outreach, RIIO continues to close the gap between advanced ophthalmic care and underserved populations.

Bio Usawa is proud to collaborate closely with RIIO and applaud its leadership, faculty, staff, and trainees for their contribution to strengthening Africa’s eye health ecosystem.

About Bio Usawa Inc.

Bio Usawa is Rwanda's pioneering biotechnology company dedicated to democratizing access to life-saving biopharmaceuticals across Africa. Founded on the principle that geographic location should not determine healthcare outcomes, the company specializes in developing and manufacturing affordable, high-quality monoclonal antibodies targeting cancer, diabetes complications, infectious diseases, and autoimmune conditions.