17 Years: Rwanda made a remarkable improvement in health sector

In 2016, Rwanda was the first country in the World to use drone for medical delivery services

During The 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, everything especially infrastructures were destroyed and beyond of that it weakened Rwandan society.

It is seventeen years now, and three years remain to turn 20 years since 2000 when Rwanda set a vision 2020 in line to  become a middle income state. Government of Rwanda made improvement in army, education, Agriculture, Health etc.

Back to health sector, In response to a severe health workforce shortage (especially of midwives), limited health infrastructure, and very high rates of maternal and child mortality, the Government of Rwanda prioritized reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health throughout its policies and major health sector reforms within a context of strong national ownership and health sector decentralization. 

With the goal of providing universal health care, the country has focused on health systems strengthening government-led coordination and planning; increased national spending on health; evidence-based policy making; strong community involvement; innovative health financing mechanisms; health workforce and infrastructure development; a community-based health insurance scheme and a performance based financing system.

Facts speak for themselves

 →In 2016, Rwanda was the first country in the World to use drone for medical delivery services
→80% of disease are treated on community level
→Rwanda is the first country in Africa to introduce the human Papilloma vaccine (HPV), with 97% coverage.
→Infant Mortality rate dropped from 152 in 2000 to 32 in 2015
→45,516 community health workers for 14,837 villages. An average of 3 CHWs per village country wide,
→100% health facilities use standard reporting tools to track pregnant women and newborns
→Vaccination coverage in 2015 was high in different parts of the country.  In East (91%), West (90%), North (95%), South (95%) and Kigali city (96%).
→99% of women with live birth receive at least one antenatal care from a skilled health provider
→406 health posts for 218 cells, with an average of 1 health post per 5 cells
→Rwanda is among the 10 African countries that have a blood program based on voluntary non-remunerated blood donation.

Rwanda has implemented a number of innovative solutions outside of the health sector that have impacted women’s and children’s health. 
Girinka, Ubudehe and Umuganda are traditional-based home grown solutions that played a major role in improving living standard of Rwandans especially women and children.

17 years, The President of Rwanda has led the country in tackling malnutrition as well as overall efforts at ensuring coordination and accountability. 
To call him a hero is not enough but let’s call him Baba wa Taifa (father of the Nation), even though it is difficult to find a word to define the role of President Paul Kagame in making Rwanda the healthy country.