The United States government has named Rwanda among the eight selected countries to serve as testing grounds for a new global health strategy aimed at reducing maternal and child deaths and combating preventable diseases.

According to the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Dr Agnes Binagwaho, there is a global concern for maternal deaths, adding that the move and that the move is part of a campaign to supplement the already existing efforts and strategies to prevent the deaths.

"We are going to enter into negotiations, but as of now, we wholesomely welcome the initiative,” said Binagwaho.
Apart from Rwanda, other countries tipped to receive technical assistance and other resources are Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali, Malawi, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Guatemala.

The new strategy will also devote more funds and attention to attacking neglected tropical diseases and implementing other initiatives.

Recently, U.S President Barack Obama requested for $9.6billion to be injected into global health funding for fiscal year 2011.

Currently, Rwanda’s impressive strides have put the country in the lead in curbing maternal and child deaths within the region.

Available statistics indicate that the maternal mortality rate has reduced by over 30 percent since 2005 and the government aims at reducing it further to 50 percent and childhood deaths by two-thirds by 2015.

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