{"id":2000125693,"date":"2026-09-11T11:30:49","date_gmt":"2026-09-11T09:30:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/?p=2000125693"},"modified":"2026-09-11T11:41:17","modified_gmt":"2026-09-11T09:41:17","slug":"health-minister-assesses-healthcare-quality-in-southern-province-urges-youth-to-shun-drugs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/health-minister-assesses-healthcare-quality-in-southern-province-urges-youth-to-shun-drugs\/","title":{"rendered":"Health Minister assesses healthcare quality in Southern Province, urges youth to shun drugs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dr. Nsanzimana made the call on Thursday during a two-day working visit to the Southern Province, where he is assessing the quality of healthcare services at primary and secondary health facilities while also engaging communities and young people on health and wellbeing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In Nyanza District, the minister visited Nyamiyaga Health Centre, Gati and Gasoro Health Posts, as well as Nyanza District Hospital, assessing the delivery of health services from the community level to specialised care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The facilities form part of Rwanda\u2019s decentralised healthcare network, which includes Community Health Workers (CHWs), health posts and health centres.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to the Ministry of Health, these services have helped reduce travel time for patients by up to 45 minutes and can manage up to 95% of healthcare service demand, bringing care closer to communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During the visits, Dr. Nsanzimana engaged with frontline health workers, particularly Community Health Workers, whom he described as the backbone of Rwanda\u2019s health system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He stressed the importance of ensuring that increased access to healthcare is matched by quality services, reaffirming that \u201cdecentralized, quality care remains a top priority.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The minister also met students from different schools in Nyanza as they marked the start of the new academic year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Following a friendly volleyball match, he encouraged the students to make physical activity part of their lives and to resist peer pressure that could lead them to substance abuse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Reminding them that they \u201conly have one body,\u201d Dr. Nsanzimana urged the students to make responsible choices that would protect their health and support their education and future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Artists DJ Ira, Nel Ngabo and Tom Close also took part in the event, performing for the students while reinforcing the message on sobriety, healthy living and commitment to education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-1 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" data-id=\"2000125706\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/09\/IMG_7204.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2000125706\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Health Minister tours a health facility in Nyanza as part of his two-day visit to the Southern Province.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"1000\" data-id=\"2000125705\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/09\/IMG_7233.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2000125705\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Health Minister Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana engaged with frontline health workers during his visit to Nyanza District.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" data-id=\"2000125704\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/09\/IMG_7231.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2000125704\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Health Minister Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana (second left)  engages with frontline health workers during his visit to Nyanza District.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" data-id=\"2000125703\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/09\/IMG_7230.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2000125703\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"800\" data-id=\"2000125702\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/09\/IMG_7227.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2000125702\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Dr. Nsanzimana assessed healthcare services at Gati Health Post in Nyanza District.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" data-id=\"2000125701\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/09\/IMG_7223.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2000125701\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" data-id=\"2000125700\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/09\/IMG_7213.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2000125700\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Health Minister , Dr. Nsanzimana was welcomed by Southern Province Governor during his visit. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" data-id=\"2000125699\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/09\/IMG_7212.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2000125699\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" data-id=\"2000125698\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/09\/IMG_7211.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2000125698\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Health Minister Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana interacts with healthcare personnel in Nyanza District. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"800\" data-id=\"2000125697\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/09\/IMG_7210.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2000125697\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"800\" data-id=\"2000125696\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/09\/IMG_7208.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2000125696\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Community Health Workers engaged with Health Minister Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana during his visit to Nyanza District.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" data-id=\"2000125695\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/09\/IMG_7207.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2000125695\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" data-id=\"2000125694\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/09\/IMG_7206.JPG-jj.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2000125694\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Rwanda\u2019s Minister of Health, Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana, has urged young people to stay physically active and avoid drugs, tobacco, vapes and alcohol, warning that such substances can affect brain development and cause long-term health problems.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":2000125695,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[151,69],"byline":[170],"hashtag":[],"class_list":["post-2000125693","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health","tag-editors-choice","tag-homehighlights","byline-igihe"],"bylines":[{"id":170,"name":"IGIHE","slug":"igihe","description":"","image":{"id":0,"url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&f=y&r=g","alt":"Default avatar","title":"Default avatar","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","sizes":[]},"user_id":8}],"contributors":[{"id":170,"name":"IGIHE","slug":"igihe","description":"","image":{"id":0,"url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&f=y&r=g","alt":"Default avatar","title":"Default avatar","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","sizes":[]},"user_id":8}],"featured_image":{"id":2000125695,"url":"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/09\/IMG_7207.jpg","alt":"","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","width":1000,"height":667,"sizes":{"thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/09\/IMG_7207.jpg","width":1000,"height":667},"medium":{"url":"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/09\/IMG_7207.jpg","width":1000,"height":667},"medium_large":{"url":"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/09\/IMG_7207.jpg","width":1000,"height":667},"large":{"url":"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/09\/IMG_7207.jpg","width":1000,"height":667},"full":{"url":"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/09\/IMG_7207.jpg","width":1000,"height":667}}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2000125693","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2000125693"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2000125693\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2000125707,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2000125693\/revisions\/2000125707"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2000125695"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2000125693"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2000125693"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2000125693"},{"taxonomy":"byline","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/byline?post=2000125693"},{"taxonomy":"hashtag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hashtag?post=2000125693"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}