The US government has hailed Rwanda’s progress made in the Health-related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
This follows a meeting between Minister of Health Agnes Binagwaho July 27 and the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius.
Both leaders shared lessons from health reform efforts in Rwanda and the United States.
Dr. Binagwaho highlighted key drivers of the progress made in Rwanda saying the country’s success story has been a result of many strategies pursued simultaneously, including;
strong commitment of national and local leaders, rapidly scaling-up of proven technological and policy innovations, structures ensuring accountability at all levels in health sector, and a relentless focus on equity.
Sebelius explained that U.S government was increasing access to subsidised preventive services, based on a similar spirit to the preventive care package that is currently provided in Rwanda by RAMA.
Dr.Binagwaho responded by explaining that the package will be provided through mutuelles de santé in the future.
Secretary Sebelius and Minister Binagwaho exchanged ideas on areas for new collaborations between the United States global health programs and the Ministry of Health of Rwanda.
The two identified collaborative studies of the burden of chronic non-communicable diseases (such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, lung disease, and mental illness) for better prevention and treatment as a top priority.
There is currently little reliable evidence on these conditions in Rwanda and in the region, so this new research will be essential to the Ministry of Health’s efforts to prevent and treat these conditions.
The meeting occurred in the context of the nineteenth International AIDS Conference.
Rwandan delegation consisting of Ministry policymakers, researchers and civil society members traveled to Washington DC for the conference and shared Rwanda’s experience in the fight against HIV/AIDS and to take lessons from other countries around the world.
During the conference, the World Bank President, Dr. Jim Yong Kim urged the world to take lessons from Rwanda’s success in integrating HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and treatment with broader anti-poverty mechanisms.
“From being an exception, [Rwanda’s] approach can become the rule,” Kim said. “This will be a leap forward in our capacity to build systems and deliver results.”
Dr. Binagwaho also met several US government officials to discuss Rwanda’s Human Resources for Health Program(HRH) and key considerations for the next set of global development goals after the end of the MDGs in 2015.
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