Rwanda’s health minister checks on rural care quality
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Dr Sabin Nsanzimana, Rwanda’s Minister of Health, began a two-day visit to the Southern Province to inspect health facilities and talk with medical staff.
He started in Nyanza District, touring health centres, posts, and the district hospital to understand how services are delivered from basic to specialised care. Nsanzimana stated the tour allowed him to evaluate the quality of care and speak directly with those providing it, especially Community Health Workers.
Rwanda has focused on bringing healthcare closer to people through Community Health Workers (CHWs), Health Posts, and Health Centres. These efforts have decreased travel times for patients by as much as 45 minutes and now handle around 95 percent of healthcare needs at the local level. The CHW program began in 1995 with 12,000 volunteers who focused on health education and encouraging people to seek medical attention.
Today, the program has expanded to include over 58,500 workers across the country who provide a wide range of services, including maternal and child care, disease prevention, treatment, and referrals. During his visit, Nsanzimana also spoke with students as they began the new school year, urging them to stay active and avoid harmful substances like vapes and alcohol. He will continue his assessment in Huye District.
