Investing in healthcare will accelerate development

Former US President Bill Clinton concluded his visit to Rwanda yesterday, with the announcement of a grand seven-year special programme designed to help build the country’s capacity to provide quality health care.Under the new multi-institutional arrangement, Faculty from 13 top American medical schools will help transfer expertise to Rwanda, at a subsidized cost.Through his flagship, Clinton Foundation, the former American President has worked closely with the Government of Rwanda and friends of Rwanda, including Partners in Health, to help improve the country’s health care system, with the latest addition being the Butaro Cancer Centre – the first such facility in a rural area in the region.Most importantly, this partnership has brought medical services closer to the people, with such facilities as Rwinkavu health centre in Ngoma District changing lives at the grassroots, especially with provision of free therapy to people living with HIV/Aids.Butaro Cancer Centre, located in the heart of Burera District will definitely make a similar difference.Worth mentioning is the importance of even distribution of key infrastructure across the country.Rwanda has set an ambitious development agenda that’s largely hinged on knowledge and skills of its people. However, without a strong health care system the set goals would hardly be achieved as a healthy workforce is key to the equation.Investing in health is indispensable for sustainable development.

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Investing in healthcare will accelerate development