Binagwaho, US Health Secretary discuss reforms

The Minister of Health, Dr Agnes Binagwaho, this week met with the US Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius, to discuss health reform in Rwanda.According to a statement from the ministry, the two officials also exchanged ideas on areas for new collaborations between the United States global health programmes and Rwanda’s Ministry of Health.They pointed out collaborative studies of the burden of chronic non-communicable diseases like cancer, heart disease, diabetes and lung disease for better prevention and treatment as a top priority.The two governments will work together in implementing a new research which will be critical in the ministry’s efforts to prevent and treat the conditions since there’s is currently little reliable evidence on the cases in Rwanda.“Rwanda’s success story has been the result of many strategies pursued simultaneously, including the strong commitment of national and local leaders, the rapid scale-up of proven technological and policy innovations and structures to ensure accountability at all levels of the health sector,” Binagwaho is quoted in the statement as having told her counterpart.The two officials met on the sidelines of the 19th International AIDS Conference that was held in Washington DC, early this week.The Health Minister also met with several officials in the US government to discuss Rwanda’s Human Resources for Health Program (HRH) and key considerations for the next set of global development goals after the end of the MDGs in 2015.Dr. Jim Yong Kim, the World Bank President, called upon other countries to take lessons from Rwanda’s success in integrating HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and treatment with broader anti-poverty mechanisms.“From being an exception, Rwanda’s approach can become the rule. This will be a leap forward in our capacity to build systems and deliver results,” Yong said.

National

Binagwaho, US Health Secretary discuss reforms