Rwanda tops EAC in health spending

Rwanda spends on health more than her partner states in the East African Community, according to latest new report jointly released by Society for International Development (SID) and Trade Mark East Africa.According to the report’s graphic representation, Rwanda leads the bloc in health expenditure with 48 followed by Uganda with 43.The region’s economic power house, Kenya is third with 33 followed by Tanzania with 25 while Burundi trails with 20.Rwanda has spent more on malaria control and reduction of maternal mortality rate.This year, government increased its budgetary allocation to health from Rwf95bn to Rwf 109 bn. The increase in health spending has also seen child mortality rates declining as today less than 1 in 13 children dies before his or her fifth birthday compared with about 1 in 6.5 children in 2005, according to the 2010 Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey (RDHS).The country is said to have one of the lowest under-five mortality rates in the region and takes the lead in protecting its children from infectious diseases, according to National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR). During the 2002 AU Summit in Abuja, African Heads of State promised to assign 15 % of their budget to health and Rwanda has since amplified its allocation to 18% above the agreement of African leaders.Other countries that have achieved the 15% of national budget allocation include Djibouti. Arthur Asimwe, Director General of Health Communication Centre, said the ministry has put more efforts in fighting infectious diseases like HIV/Aids, TB, malaria and others.“We have made progress in infectious diseases and now are going to embark on non infectious diseases especially heart diseases, cancers, diabetes and others,” he said in an interview with The New Times.Asiimwe mentioned the ministry observed that as more Rwandans improve their lives, more non-infectious diseases increase. He also said malnutrition will be seriously tackled.Currently, over 85% of Rwandans are in community-based health insurance scheme known as mutuelles de santé while the remaining percentage use Rwanda Health Insurance Fund (RAMA) and other private schemes.At a recent international conference on malaria in Kigali, Dr. Corine Karema Director General of the Malaria Unit at Rwanda Biomedical Centre, pointed out that the country was on the right track in fighting malaria. “92 per cent of patients with malaria are treated within a period of 24 hours. Malaria incidence has also reduced by 70 per cent and 82 per cent of the Rwandan population are also using mosquito nets,” Karema said.However, though the region has done tremendously well in the health sector, the report shows that more challenges remain in different sectors as poverty persists at stubbornly high levels with 53 million East Africans living below the poverty line in 2010. Food insecurity was also reported to be among the problems in the region.Speaking during the launch of the report, EAC Secretary General, Dr Richard Sezibera, noted food insecurity was due to different factors, citing growing population in the region and climate change. “The major drivers of food insecurity including growing populations and their evolving tastes, the climate and the global trade dynamics that shape food prices, escape the direct control of East Africa’s national authorities,” he said.“The region continues to be plagued by severe drought and famine as well as an unbalanced food production and trade regime.” The report indicates that East Africa’s population grew by 24 million between 2005 and 2010 and it is estimated to reach 237 million by 2030, which could lead to persistent food insecurity in the region.The EAC apparently has a population of 133.1 million.