Kagame receives US Global AIDS coordinator

President Paul Kagame yesterday at Village Urugwiro received Ambassador Eric Goosby, the US Global Aids Coordinator who was in the country to launch the Human Resources in the Health sector programme.The health sector initiative is an innovative programme that plans to increase the quality and number of health workers through partnering with some of the best American schools.Speaking to journalists shortly after meeting the Head of State, Goosby said that, the health care programme aims to improve the skills of the Rwandan medical personnel to be specialists in various medical fields.“We visited President Kagame to brief him about the Human Resources Initiative because it’s an important programme that brings together medical personnel from about 14 best universities in the United States to train Rwandan doctors, nurses, laboratory technicians among others,” he said.The US Global Aids Coordinator said President Kagame welcomed the programme but he asked critical questions regarding its sustainability and accountability.“He is very concerned of the quality of care that is delivered through this system and wants it to be monitored and show that indeed it improves the lives of the Rwandan people,” noted Goosby who is also the Managing Director of the US President ‘s Emergency Plan for AIDS relief.The programme supported by the former US President Bill Clinton through his organisation , the Clinton Health Access Initiative(CHAI) seeks to address the challenge of Human resources in the health sector through the Ministry of Health.CHAI has been assisting Rwanda in discussions and negotiations with the US government and Global Fund to implement the national strategic plan for Human Resources for Health.Close to 100 US faculty members in various medical fields will be coming to Rwanda for one year placements for a period of seven consecutive years.“The US faculty members will partner with Rwandan government to upgrade the skills of the medical teachers and students,” said Vincent Biruta, the Minister of Education who accompanied Goosby delegation to the President’s officeHe stated that the Head of State expressed gratitude towards the initiative but emphasised the need to ensure its sustainability in the country.The Human Resources in Health sector scheme is part of Rwanda’s strategic plan to improve health care system and consolidate on what has been achieved in previous years.Rwanda’s outstanding health care delivery system has seen the country achieving various Millennium Development Goals in the health sector.The Minister of Health, Agnes Binagwaho, commented: “We appreciate this programme because it will improve the skills and knowledge of our medical staff.”

National

Kagame receives US Global AIDS coordinator