The review included 29 randomized controlled trials involving more than 2,700 preterm and full‑term neonates. It showed that infants who received sucrose just before or during the needle insertion probably experienced less pain than those who received no intervention, water, or only standard comfort care. Sucrose was found to lower pain scores during the procedure and for up to one minute afterward.
Dr Mariana Bueno from the University of Toronto, the lead author of the review, said: “Newborn babies undergo frequent needle procedures in hospital without any pain relief or comforting measures, even though older children and adults rarely have these procedures done without pain care.
The evidence shows that a small amount of sucrose given just before the procedure is a simple, fast, and effective way to reduce that pain. Our review helps clinicians use this evidence more confidently and consistently in practice.”
The review also found that sucrose appeared to be more effective than the use of pacifiers alone for reducing pain. However, evidence comparing sucrose with other comforting measures such as skin‑to‑skin care was limited.
Importantly, no studies reported harmful side effects such as gagging or pauses in breathing when sucrose was used in the small amounts required for pain relief.
Researchers emphasized that sucrose can be given orally in very small doses and that this simple intervention could help inform clearer clinical guidelines for neonatal pain management worldwide.
New research indicates that sugar helps relieve pain in newborns during venepuncture.
At the opening of the forum on March 9 , Rwanda’s Ambassador to Sweden, Diane Gashumba, welcomed the visiting delegations.
“I want to take this moment to thank the delegation from the Baltic and Nordic countries. You are welcome to the Land of a Thousand Hills and a thousand opportunities.”
During the forum, the Minister of State for Primary Health Care at the Ministry of Health, Yvan Butera, highlighted the remarkable progress Rwanda has achieved in maternal and newborn health.
According to him, thanks to the joint efforts of the government and its partners, the country has made significant advances in recent years.
“Rwanda, together with its partners, is proud of the remarkable progress achieved in maternal and newborn health, and we are ready to take the next step forward with partners who share the same ambitions.”
The minister noted that maternal mortality has declined significantly, while 98% of births now take place in health facilities with skilled health providers, reflecting the country’s strong commitment to safe delivery.
Progress is also visible in childhood vaccination. Today, 94% of children aged 12 to 23 months are fully vaccinated with basic antigens, and 98% receive key vaccines such as BCG.
Rwanda has also strengthened access to healthcare through its health insurance system. More than 90% of the population is covered by community-based or private health insurance schemes, allowing citizens to access quality healthcare services without facing heavy financial burdens.
Minister Butera invited Nordic and Baltic countries to strengthen their collaboration with Rwanda in order to accelerate progress in the health sector.
“Rwanda is not only one of the fastest-improving health systems in Africa, but also a transparent and corruption-free environment where investments generate a real impact on people’s lives.”
For his part, Rwanda Development Board (RDB) CEO Jean-Guy Afrika highlighted the country’s advances in pharmaceutical regulation and life sciences.
He noted that the Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority (Rwanda FDA) has reached World Health Organization (WHO) Maturity Level 3, demonstrating its ability to consistently and effectively regulate medical products according to internationally recognized standards.
Afrika also emphasized Rwanda’s ambition to become a regional biotechnology and vaccine manufacturing hub, notably through the establishment of facilities by BioNTech.
These infrastructures aim to produce vaccines locally in Africa, strengthen the continent’s health security, and improve access to innovative vaccines while reducing reliance on imports during future health emergencies.
During the forum, Dr. Albert Tuyishime, Head of the Diseases Prevention and Control Department (HDPC), also shared Rwanda’s experience in building an African bio-manufacturing and vaccine innovation ecosystem.
Drawing on the country’s effective responses to various outbreaks, he highlighted several key lessons, including the importance of strong public policies, effective regulation, innovation, and research to support vaccine development.
According to him, these efforts are closely linked to health security and emergency preparedness.
On this occasion, Rwandan officials invited investors from Nordic and Baltic countries to explore opportunities in Rwanda’s Life Sciences sector, a rapidly expanding field in the country.
A group photo of Rwandan officials and Nordic-Baltic delegations at the second Rwanda–Nordic and Baltic Business Forum in Kigali.Rwanda’s Ambassador to Sweden, Diane Gashumba, welcomed Nordic and Baltic delegations to Kigali at the opening of the business forum on March 9, 2026.Minister of State for Primary Health Care, Yvan Butera, addressed participants, highlighting Rwanda’s achievements in maternal and newborn health.Jean-Guy Afrika, CEO of Rwanda Development Board, shed light on Rwanda’s progress in pharmaceutical regulation and life sciences.Participants at the forum explored Rwanda’s health sector innovations and potential for collaborative projects.Delegates from Nordic and Baltic countries engaged in discussions with Rwandan officials on investment opportunities in health and life sciences.
The program is being implemented in partnership with the Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC), targeting more than 140,000 households across nine sectors in the Gasabo, Kicukiro, and Nyarugenge districts.
The affected sectors include Masaka in Kicukiro; Kanyinya and Mageragere in Nyarugenge; and Rutunga, Gikomero, Rusororo, Ndera, Jabana, and Kinyinya in Gasabo.
The campaign was launched in Masaka Sector, which has over 30,000 residents. Kicukiro District, where Masaka is located, has reported more than 115,000 malaria cases, making it the district with the highest number of infections.
Alfred Nduwayezu, Masaka Sector Executive Secretary, attributed the high malaria rates to local environmental factors, including marshlands used for rice cultivation and areas with stagnant water.
He explained: “When we track the data, the increase in malaria cases is linked to the local environment — there are marshes, rice fields, and water accumulation. RBC and its partners recognised the problem and approved indoor spraying in our sector to help address it.”
In Masaka, around 20,000 households are expected to receive the insecticide treatment.
Nduwayezu added that, in collaboration with partners, the sector has implemented measures to curb malaria and reduce infection rates, particularly during and after the rainy season when cases typically spike.
Léopold Ruzibiza, Programs Manager at Strive Foundation Rwanda, said previous interventions, including mass testing, clearing bushes, and other measures, had limited impact. Indoor spraying was therefore chosen as the most reliable method.
He emphasised the importance of residents following proper procedures during spraying:
“Residents must vacate their homes, remove all belongings from the rooms, and allow health workers to mix and apply the insecticide at the approved dosage. Houses are then sealed for two hours.”
Residents are being urged to cooperate fully, as the campaign is being carried out by trained health workers.
In October and December 2025, the campaign will expand to 28 sectors most affected by malaria in the Gisagara, Nyanza, Bugesera, Kirehe, Rwamagana, and Nyagatare districts, covering 1,031,676 residents.
According to the Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC), malaria claimed over 150 lives nationwide between 2024 and 2025.
The person applying the insecticide must wear full protective clothing to prevent exposure to its harmful effects.The program is being implemented in partnership with the Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC), targeting more than 140,000 households across nine sectors in the Gasabo, Kicukiro, and Nyarugenge districts.Léopold Ruzibiza, Programs Manager at Strive Foundation Rwanda, urged residents to actively cooperate in the insecticide spraying campaign.Alfred Nduwayezu, Masaka Sector Executive Secretary, attributed the high malaria rates to local environmental factors, including marshlands used for rice cultivation and areas with stagnant water.
Hassan Sibomana, Director of the Vaccine Programmes Unit at the Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC), told The New Times that Gardasil 9 protects against nine HPV types, compared with the previous Gardasil 4, which covered only four. The additional strains allow broader prevention of HPV-related cancers.
The vaccine is administered in one or two doses depending on age, with two doses recommended for women 29 and older. Sibomana stressed that Gardasil 9 is safe, highly effective, and comparable in safety to its predecessor.
Currently, the rollout is limited to the four districts to monitor the vaccine’s effectiveness and acceptability before expanding nationwide. Once more doses are available, Gardasil 9 will be accessible at health facilities in the targeted areas, and communities will be informed.
“With broader coverage, we can accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer. Our target is 90% vaccination coverage, 70% of women screened, and treatment for 90% of those who test positive,” Sibomana said.
Rwanda has already achieved high HPV vaccination rates among 12-year-old girls, with more than 95% of districts reporting over 90% coverage. The Gardasil 9 rollout aligns with World Health Organization guidelines that extend HPV vaccination to adults, including women who were not covered when the program began in 2011.
The new vaccine is administered in one or two doses, depending on age, with two doses recommended for women 29 and older.
Long COVID is a condition where symptoms of COVID-19 persist for weeks or months after the initial infection has cleared.
People with Long COVID often experience fatigue, shortness of breath, and “brain fog,” even if their initial illness was mild.
New research in mice sheds light on why coronavirus infections can have longer-lasting effects than influenza.
In the study published by European Medical Journala, researchers compared the long-term impact of coronavirus with influenza A on the lungs and brain.
Both viruses caused lung inflammation, but coronavirus led to ongoing tissue damage, including scarring, abnormal repair, and persistent activation of inflammatory and clotting pathways.
Influenza, by contrast, triggered a strong early immune response followed by effective lung repair, helping explain why breathing difficulties are more common after coronavirus infection.
The study also found that coronavirus affected the brain, even though the virus itself was not present there. Mice infected with coronavirus showed early microbleeds and sustained brain inflammation.
Changes in gene activity suggested blood vessel problems, immune system overactivity, and disrupted signaling in areas controlling hormones and sensory processing.
These changes mirror neurological symptoms reported by people with long COVID, such as fatigue and cognitive difficulties. Influenza did not produce these brain effects.
The findings suggest that long COVID is not just about lingering virus, but rather ongoing immune activation, blood vessel damage, and impaired tissue repair.
The research also points to lasting effects on how organs communicate, including the lung-brain connection.
While mouse studies cannot fully replicate human disease, these insights could help scientists develop targeted treatments to reduce inflammation, prevent lung scarring, and protect the brain.
Further clinical studies are needed to confirm these mechanisms in people, but this work helps explain why coronavirus can leave a longer-lasting mark on the body than influenza.
Mugonero Hospital was established in 1931 by Seventh-day Adventist missionaries at the Ngoma Mission. Over the years, its responsibilities expanded, and it now serves around 150,000 people from Karongi and Nyamasheke districts.
Many of the hospital buildings had become outdated, prompting the government, in partnership with the Adventist Church, to launch a phased renovation program. Renovated facilities include the children’s ward, maternity ward, and offices for staff and hospital management.
Mediatrice Umuhoza, a patient, told IGIHE that before the renovations, she worried about challenges associated with old buildings.
“During heavy rains, water would leak down the walls. Hospital beds were worn out and few, and with so many patients, it was a real challenge,” she said.
Jean Claude Mutuyimana, treated for bone-related illnesses, said receiving care had been difficult due to cramped and outdated facilities.
“Before the renovations, treatment here was challenging. We thank the government and partners for refurbishing the hospital. The main remaining challenge is the low number of doctors and nurses,” he said.
The Director General of the hospital, Mwumvaneza Mutagoma said more than Rwf 1 billion was spent on renovations, including Rwf 700 million for the maternity ward, Rwf 135 million for staff offices, and additional funds for the children’s ward.
“The remaining challenge is a shortage of medical staff, especially nurses and midwives. However, we are hopeful that more will be available soon, thanks to a program aimed at quadrupling the number of doctors over the next four years.
“We currently have six midwives out of the 19 needed, 41 nurses out of the 58 required, and no specialist doctors. The orthopedic doctor we had, a missionary, has left, and we are waiting for a replacement,” he explained.
Mugonero Hospital collaborates with nine health centers, seven in Karongi and two in Nyamasheke, and serves approximately 150,000 people.
The hospital has 130 beds and mainly treats patients for respiratory illnesses, bone diseases, infections caused by poor sanitation, and other common conditions.
Over Rwf 1 billion has been invested in the renovation of Mugonero HospitalMugonero Hospital was established in 1931 by Seventh-day Adventist missionaries at the Ngoma Mission.
The agreement was simultaneouly signed on Thursday, March 5, 2026, in Addis Ababa by Dr Jean Kaseya, Director General of Africa CDC, and in Tokyo by Professor Dr. Norihiro Kokudo, President of JIHS.
According to a statement released by Africa CDC, the agreement establishes a framework for enhanced cooperation to address emerging and re-emerging public health threats and to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response.
The partnership will promote closer collaboration in infectious disease surveillance and early warning systems, laboratory and research capacity, and coordinated responses to public health emergencies.
It will also support workforce development through structured training programs, institutional exchanges, and technical collaboration aimed at strengthening resilient public health institutions.
“Health threats cross borders, and preparedness depends on strong partnerships,” said Dr Jean Kaseya, Director General of Africa CDC. “This cooperation with JIHS will strengthen scientific collaboration, reinforce public health institutions and workforce capacity, and accelerate our ability to prevent, detect, and respond to outbreaks.”
The collaboration will also advance One Health and climate-resilient approaches to address zoonotic diseases, antimicrobial resistance, and other emerging risks.
“JIHS was established as an integrated national institution combining infectious disease intelligence, research and development, clinical expertise, and international cooperation,” said Professor Dr. Norihiro Kokudo, President of JIHS. “Through this partnership with Africa CDC, we look forward to expanding joint research, strengthening workforce development, and building practical collaboration that contributes to regional and global health security.”
The cooperation reflects a shared commitment to strengthening science-based preparedness and fostering mutual learning between institutions, researchers, clinicians, and public health professionals from Africa and Japan.
It also supports Africa CDC’s Strategic Plan (2023–2027) and theAfrica Health Security and Sovereignty (AHSS) Agenda. The partners will operationalize the agreement through a Joint Action Plan that will define priority activities, timelines, and implementation mechanisms.
The agreement was signed in Addis Ababa by Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director General of Africa CDC, and in Tokyo by Professor Dr. Norihiro Kokudo, President of JIHS.
Researchers from UC Santa Barbara, UC San Francisco, and the City University of New York have linked decades of climate and weather data to a multinational cohort of 2.2 million people living with or at risk for HIV.
The study, published in GeoHealth and supported by the National Institutes of Health, highlights how EWEs affect HIV treatment and public health.
“People living with HIV are an especially vulnerable population, many of whom live in areas that are historically and/or increasingly prone to severe weather events,” said UCSB geographer Frank Davenport.
The research focused on 777 HIV clinics in the NIH-funded IeDEA network, tracking drought exposure from 1981 to 2023 and flood exposure from 2006 to 2023.
Lead author Sophia Arabadjis explained, “But when you have disruptions like floods and droughts, where people may not have access to the right drugs, care or basic food/water supplies, the viral load begins to build in these patients.”
Droughts typically have indirect effects, increasing food insecurity and prompting migration or transactional work that can disrupt treatment.
Floods often cause immediate damage to infrastructure, displacing patients and making clinic access difficult, while also raising the risk of waterborne or mosquito-borne diseases.
Southern Africa’s IeDEA sites are currently most exposed to both drought and flood risks. Arabadjis emphasized that “pinpointing which clinics are at-risk helps us target resources and mitigation efforts across the network.”
While the study does not examine patient-specific outcomes, it provides a foundational record for future research and could inform policies to protect HIV patients during extreme weather events.
But beyond the ward rounds and clinical consultations, another mission has been steadily unfolding, one that could reshape the future of medical research in Rwanda.
A question that changed everything
Like many young doctors, Dr. Munyaneza entered medicine driven by curiosity and a desire to serve. Science fascinated him. So did the power of evidence, how data and research could shape decisions, strengthen health systems, and influence national policy.
Dr. Faustin Munyaneza is an Internal Medicine Specialist and Pulmonology Fellow at King Faisal Hospital Kigali.
During his residency training at the University of Rwanda, he began to observe opportunities to further strengthen practical research mentorship for medical trainees.
Like any tertiary institution, research was a graduation requirement. Every resident had to complete a dissertation. As Dr. Munyaneza began shaping his own research topic, he sought guidance from senior colleagues, hoping to learn from their experience.
What he found was that many residents were navigating similar challenges themselves, balancing clinical duties while trying to translate research theory into practical project design, data analysis, and scientific writing. Some projects progressed more slowly than expected, occasionally extending training timelines. It became clear to him that the issue was not a lack of ability or dedication, but the need for more structured, hands-on mentorship throughout the research journey.
“We were taught research methodology once, mostly in theory, and then left to navigate complex projects largely on our own,” he explains.
Curious and concerned, he examined the university repository of medical Master’s theses dating back to 2014. Fewer than 10 percent had been published in peer-reviewed journals. In conversations and needs assessments with fellow residents, more than 85 percent cited lack of mentorship and practical research skills as major barriers.
Valuable local data was being generated, but rarely reaching the global scientific community.
Dr. Munyaneza founded NextGen MedResearch, an initiative designed to strengthen practical research mentorship for medical trainees.
Rather than accepting the gap, Dr. Munyaneza decided to build something to fill it.
He founded NextGen MedResearch, an initiative designed to strengthen practical research mentorship for medical trainees. Its flagship program, the Resident Research Space (RRS), offers structured, step-by-step guidance from the earliest stages of idea development all the way to journal submission.
Residents receive support in designing strong protocols, navigating ethical approvals, planning statistical analyses, interpreting their own data, and writing manuscripts that meet publication standards.
Importantly, the program does not replace academic supervisors. It complements them, reducing supervisory burden while strengthening residents’ independence and confidence.
The transformation, he says, has been striking.
“Residents who consistently participate show remarkable growth. They don’t just complete dissertations. They understand their data. They defend their methodology. They think like researchers.”
A shift in identity
Perhaps the most powerful change has been less technical and more personal.
Residents who once viewed research as an academic hurdle now see it as part of their professional identity. They begin to imagine futures that include academic medicine, doctoral training, conference presentations, and independent projects.
“They no longer see themselves only as clinicians,” Dr. Munyaneza notes. “They see themselves as contributors to knowledge.”
That shift matters. In a country like Rwanda, with its unique epidemiological patterns, environmental factors, and health system realities, relying solely on external data can limit effectiveness. Local research ensures that clinical guidelines and policies reflect lived realities.
For Dr. Munyaneza, strengthening research output is not about prestige. It is about patient care.
“Without strong local evidence, we make decisions based on assumptions that may not fully apply to our context,” he says. “Research improves outcomes.”
Collaboration and vision
The initiative has grown through collaboration. Partnerships with the University of Rwanda, teaching hospitals, and international collaborators like Oli Health Magazine Organization are expected to expand mentorship networks and create new opportunities for publication and conference engagement.
Rwanda’s policy environment, including its emphasis on innovation and evidence-based healthcare, provides fertile ground. Still, Dr. Munyaneza sees room for growth: protected research time for residents, stronger infrastructure, access to statistical tools and journals, and sustainable funding.
Looking ahead, he envisions expanding the Resident Research Space nationally, developing AI-powered mentorship tools, and launching a digital mentor–mentee matching platform to connect Rwandan trainees with experts across Africa and beyond.
“Africa does not lack talent,” he often says. “It lacks systems that nurture that talent.”
Ask him where he hopes Rwanda will stand in a decade, and his answer comes without hesitation.
He sees hospitals generating high-quality, clinician-led research. Residents graduating not only as competent specialists but as confident researchers. Local data shaping national health policy. Rwanda emerging as a continental hub for scientific innovation.
But if his journey proves anything, it is that systems can be built. Gaps can be addressed. And change often begins with one person who refuses to accept that things must remain as they are.
The analysis found that more than 40% of adults with chronic headache conditions experience symptoms of depression or anxiety.
Chronic headaches were defined as occurring on more than 15 days per month or lasting longer than three months.
Across 48 eligible studies, researchers reported that 43.1% of adults with chronic headaches had clinical symptoms of anxiety, while 45.9% showed symptoms of depression.
Compared with people without headaches, those with chronic headaches were nearly five times more likely to experience depression and more than seven times more likely to experience anxiety.
They were also more than twice as likely to report both conditions compared with individuals who suffer from episodic headaches.
The findings highlight the urgent need for improved mental health screening and treatment among people with chronic headache disorders.
Previous research has shown similar social and health patterns. The 2010 American Migraine Prevalence and Prevention study found that individuals with chronic migraine had lower household incomes, were less likely to work full time, and were more likely to experience occupational disability than those with episodic migraine.
They were also more likely to report respiratory illnesses such as asthma and bronchitis, as well as cardiovascular risk factors including hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol and obesity.
Researchers note that chronic pain conditions show comparable mental health trends, reinforcing the need for targeted psychological support, particularly for women and younger patients.
