Health, Human Rights, and Democracy in Rwanda

Success in Rwanda’s health sector is due to the fact that the Government works as one in pursuit of an integrated and community-driven development process. This past year, I have read and listened to many great newspaper articles and speeches about Rwanda’s social and economic progress since 1994 that highlight the country’s unprecedented achievements but conclude with a single sentence or two that intends to make the reader or listener doubt all of these achievements. Listening to such reflections on my country has caused me to reflect on a number of trends since my return to Rwanda in 1996. Still much needs to be done and as a nation and as a people, we have pursued with fierce urgency the integration of participatory democratic principles and equitable social policy to ensure that all Rwandans benefit from the process of development. We promote and strengthen our democracy by always engaging our people – Rwanda’s true wealth – in the formulation and implementation of policies for health, education, gender, youth, decentralization, financing, infrastructure and other.