The Director General of World Health Organisation (WHO) Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus arrived in Rwanda on Wednesday evening on a visit that will mainly focus on Universal Health Coverage.

Upon arrival, Tedros was welcomed at Kigali International Airport by health minister Dr Diane Gashumba.

According to the ministry, Tedros’ visit to Rwanda is part of his tour to promote universal health coverage for all global citizens under the framework of Sustainable Development Goals.

Before he came to Rwanda, he was in Kenya and Madagascar.

On Thursday morning Tedros travelled to the Eastern Province and paid homage to the victims of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi laid to rest at Nyamata Genocide Memorial.

"Very shocking, brutal and evil beyond words. The world should not forget the genocide,” he is quoted as having said after paying homage to thousands of victims killed at the former Church.

He is expected to visit various health facilities in the country examining the progress of Universal Health Coverage.

Over 80 per cent of Rwandans are medically insured under the Community Based Health Insurance, commonly known as Mutuelle de Santé, while others are covered under other schemes.

Tedros, 53, a former Foreign minister of Ethiopia, was elected WHO Director General last May.

Rwanda strongly lobbied for his win with Rwanda’s Foreign Affairs Minister Louise Mushikiwabo heading his campaign.

With wide backing from Africa, Dr. Tedros beat Dr. David Nabarro, the British candidate, after two rounds of voting by winning 121 votes in a closed-door election session in which the health ministers of 185 of the world’s countries cast their ballots in secret.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw