The week was one of hopes and more hopes for the health sector. From malaria to maternal and infant mortality findings releases have been promising.

The World Health Organisation (WHO), in a report, said in infant mortality rate between 2005 and 2010 has significantly improved, dropping from 86 deaths per 1,000 live births to 50 deaths per 1,000 live births.

Mortality rate for children under five reduced from 152 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2005 to 76 deaths per 1000 live births in 2010. In the same perspective, malnutrition declined from 3.9 per cent in 2005 to 2.8 per cent in 2010. This successful progress is attributed to improved healthcare, better education and access to services.

Thrusting the fight forward, projections by WHO against infant mortality show a reduction by 2018 hitting the target of 42 deaths per 1000 live births. Without undermining Rwanda’s universal health coverage system, 91 per cent of the population were covered under community-based health insurance by 2010, indicating an increase from 71 per cent in 2005. 

In the same year, however, 17 per cent of pregnant women exhibited awareness about the necessity of mosquito nets. Continuous efforts managed to decrease malaria prevalence during pregnancy from 1.4 per cent in 2008 to 0.7 per cent in 2010. For children under five, Roll Back Malaria report indicates that Rwanda ranks high in the fight against the worst child killer disease.

Malaria prevalence decreased from 2.6 per cent to 1.4 per cent in 2008, with the country ranked top in sub-Saharan Africa in the use of mosquito nets.

Meanwhile, for those who often find themselves fighting over patternity, you will o longer have to cross the borders to have your DNA checked. a Rwf6 billion forensic facility will open in Kigali next year. 

The laboratory will come fully equipped with all the modern machines used in forensics science. This will be bad news for criminals as minute evidence found at crime scenes will be analysed.