Rwanda: US Donates 24m Dollars to Fund New Health Care Programme

Excerpt from report by John Kimanuka entitled “US donates 24m dollars for health” published in English by Rwandan newspaper The New Times web site on 6 March

The US has donated 24m US dollars (approximately 13.6bn Rwandan francs) to start a new health care programme known as Intra Health in all provinces. This was announced during a recent ceremony to launch the health care project, presided over by the minister of health, Dr Jean Damascene Ntawukuriryayo.

The five-year decentralized health project will operate in four provinces of Gitarama, Kibungo, Gikongoro and Kigali City, which will act as a pilot scheme before expanding to other provinces.

Gikongoro was selected because of the high poverty levels, while Kibungo takes a lead in the decentralization program, according to the minister. [Passage omitted]

Commenting on the new health program, the health minister urged the participants to sensitize the masses on the dangers of HIV/ Aids, especially its effect on health standards. The minister cautioned participants not to waste most of the funds on seminars and workshops but to instead spend on tangible activities. Some of the funds are to be used on capacity building through training for district health officials.