MCH in Rwanda

To celebrate Mother and Child Health Week in Rwanda, Global Health Progress (GHP) held a roundtable discussion with maternal and child health-focused organizations operating in Rwanda to learn more about ongoing projects promoting the health of women and children. Accordingthe GHP, 

Rwanda is making good progress in improving access to health-related services. The World Health Organization (WHO) considers Rwanda to have adequate access to health facilities, with three-fourths of the population living between 5 and 10 km of a health clinic. Challenges posed by Rwanda’s mountainous geography, however, make it difficult for some people to reach even relatively nearby facilities. Moreover, the population of Rwanda is expected to reach 12 million by the year 2010, which may significantly impede the country’s progress due to resource constraints.

Dr. Anita Asiimwe, the Rwandan National AIDS Control Commission Executive Secretary, spoke at the roundtable of the need for additional healthcare workers (including not only doctors, but also midwives and paramedics), noting that Rwanda currently has only one healthcare professional for every 50,000 people. Dr. Asiimwe added that Rwanda only has a total of 16 pediatricians and 10 OBGYNs nationwide. The government is currently addressing these and other critical challenges to providing care for women and children by focusing on recruiting and training at least four volunteer healthcare workers for every 150 homes, linking these families to the nearest clinics.

Participants included:

• Chris Singer, President, International Section, PhRMA
• Dr. Alicia Greenidge, Director General of IFPMA
• Dr. Anita Asiimwe, Executive Secretary of the Rwandan National AIDS Control Commission
• Stephen B. Sobhani, Senior Director, International Alliance Development, PhRMA
• Mo Mayrides, Director, International Alliance Development, PhRMA
• Dr. Leslie Mancuso, President and CEO, Jhpiego
• Dr. Alain Damiba, Vice President of Global Programs, Jhpiego
• Jeremie Zoungrana, Country Director, Jhpiego Access Project
• Jaime Stewart, CARE International of Rwanda
• Dr. Fabienne Shumbusho, Family Health International
• Laura Hurley, IntraHealth International
• Daphrose Nyirasafali , UNFPA Rwanda
• Simon Ntare, Women’s Equity in Access to Care and Treatment
• The Capacity Project
• USAID