Rwanda News

In the context of the on-going outbreak of Ebola in North Kivu and Ituri Provinces of the DRC that declared on 1st August 2018, Uganda, South Sudan and Rwanda as priority one countries based on proximity, insecurity and high population across the border, the Rwandan Ministry of Health, supported by partners has developed, and is implementing an EVD preparedness and contingency plan. The objective: strengthen preparedness capacities for the prevention, earlier detection, response and containment of a potential case of EVD in Rwanda.

This year on 24th October 2018, the Ministry of Health in collaboration with WHO, Rotary International and other Partners celebrated the national Polio Day in Rwanda. The ceremony took place in Huye district where polio surveillance performance indicators were not achieved since last three years.

On 24th October 2018 the Ministry of Health in Collaboration with WHO Country Office in Rwanda and the Rotary International celebrated together the National Polio day. Poliomyelitis (polio) is a devastating and highly infectious viral disease, which  mainly affects young children. The virus is transmitted by person-to-person spread mainly through the fecal-oral route or, less frequently, by a common vehicle (e.g. contaminated water or food) and multiplies in the intestine, from where it can invade the nervous system and can cause crippling paralysis.

The current outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) poses a high risk of introduction into neighboring countries including Rwanda. An Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is likely spread over tens of kilometers.

Eliminating Neglected Tropical Diseases in Africa 

KIGALI, July 17, 2018 – The Expanded Special Project for Elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases (ESPEN) will gather from 17-19 July 2018 in Kigali, national Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) Programme Managers and partners at its first annual meeting. The objective is to review the regional and national progress towards NTDs elimination in Africa.

The World Health Organization Country Office Representative and the Rwandan Minister of state in charge of Public Health and Primary Health Care were at the Kacyiru hospital to further enhance public health emergencies preparedness and response. 

Rwanda has organized from 14 to 18 May 2018 its annual Integrated Mother and Child Health Week. The Mother and Child Health week takes place twice a year and serves as an opportunity to catch up with health services provision, particularly to the hard to reach, the drop out and the most vulnerable. The Mother and Child Health Week was integrated in the African Vaccination Week and the World Malaria Day celebrations.