Ambassador hails Rwanda’s health progress

KIGALI - Ambassador Johnnie Carson, the Assistant Secretary, Bureau of African Affairs, yesterday, commended Rwanda’s tremendous development in the health sector. The ambassador had visited Kibagabaga hospital with the Minister of Health, Dr. Agnes Binagwaho. Amb.Carson said that he was impressed with the improvement made in Rwanda’s health care system. “I believe that Rwanda has been a leader among many other countries in improving the health of all its citizens. The United States of America (USA) is proud to be one of Rwanda’s strongest partners and collaborators through USAID and other US projects here,” Carson said. He stated that when he returns to the US, he will report that the financial support and resources given to Rwanda are being put to good use. He further mentioned that the service delivery in Rwanda is very impressive. Carson said that despite the Rwandan government being relatively new, the development in the country is enormous and that the US will continue to contribute to this progress. Dr. Binagwaho stated that Carson’s visit is an honour to Rwanda and also a chance for Rwanda to showcase the incredible progress in the health care and other sectors. “His visit is also an opportunity for us to show what we have done with the support they give to us. We have discussed with him the progress made in increasing the use of family planning in Rwanda, the increase in the number of babies delivered in heath facilities and also the number of malnutrition cases that has drastically dropped,” Binagwaho said. The Minister however attributed all the success in the health sector to the good governance of Rwanda. “We have a clear and focused agenda. We work together with different Ministries but above all through the good governance, we are able to implement whatever we set out to do,” she said. The President of Community Health Workers (CHWs) in Kinyinya, Zaverine Mukamakombeza, also said that Carson’s visit was a chance for them to also boast of their role and achievements as CHWs. She said that CHWs have played a very vital role in improving health from the grass root level. Mukamakombeza said that these health workers sensitize and encourage people to seek proper medical care. There are 45,000 CHWs in the country and around 15,000 Community Health Workers that don’t belong to the Ministry of Health but do social follow-up starting from grass root level. Ends