Rwanda News

The Rwanda Health Management Information System (R-HMIS), based on the District Health Information System (DHIS-2), has been successfully rolled out in all public health facilities since 2012, with completeness and timeliness rates as high as over 90 per cent.

However, although about 70 per cent of private health facilities report through the routine HMIS, there was still a need to improve completeness of their reporting through the system in order to improve HMIS data quality, which is critical to monitor the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In the context of the on-going outbreak of Ebola in North Kivu and Ituri Provinces of the DRC that declared on 1st August 2018, Uganda, South Sudan and Rwanda as priority one countries based on proximity, insecurity and high population across the border, the Rwandan Ministry of Health, supported by partners has developed, and is implementing an EVD preparedness and contingency plan. The objective: strengthen preparedness capacities for the prevention, earlier detection, response and containment of a potential case of EVD in Rwanda.

This year on 24th October 2018, the Ministry of Health in collaboration with WHO, Rotary International and other Partners celebrated the national Polio Day in Rwanda. The ceremony took place in Huye district where polio surveillance performance indicators were not achieved since last three years.

On 24th October 2018 the Ministry of Health in Collaboration with WHO Country Office in Rwanda and the Rotary International celebrated together the National Polio day. Poliomyelitis (polio) is a devastating and highly infectious viral disease, which  mainly affects young children. The virus is transmitted by person-to-person spread mainly through the fecal-oral route or, less frequently, by a common vehicle (e.g. contaminated water or food) and multiplies in the intestine, from where it can invade the nervous system and can cause crippling paralysis.

The current outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) poses a high risk of introduction into neighboring countries including Rwanda. An Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is likely spread over tens of kilometers.

Countries with land borders adjoining the DRC like Rwanda have been advised by the World Health Organization (WHO) to urgently strengthen their surveillance and alert systems for early detection of potential cases, and overall preparedness for timely and effective response.

Eliminating Neglected Tropical Diseases in Africa 

KIGALI, July 17, 2018 – The Expanded Special Project for Elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases (ESPEN) will gather from 17-19 July 2018 in Kigali, national Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) Programme Managers and partners at its first annual meeting. The objective is to review the regional and national progress towards NTDs elimination in Africa.

The World Health Organization Country Office Representative and the Rwandan Minister of state in charge of Public Health and Primary Health Care were at the Kacyiru hospital to further enhance public health emergencies preparedness and response.