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Rwanda News

Rwanda Immunization success story

Context and Issue

• Rwanda suffered a catastrophic genocide against the Tutsis in 1994
• This disaster and the ensuing war resulted in total disruption of the country’s health system including immunization service delivery.
• Following this incident, the national immunization coverage was very low (less than 30% in 1995) and incidence of vaccine preventable diseases (VPD) was high (e.g 28,000 measles cases in 1995);
• Only 6 traditional vaccines were provided in routine immunization programme in 1994.

WHO contribution

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Rwandans are called on to practice Sports and Hygiene to prevent cancers

On February 04th 2018, Rwanda joined other countries to celebrate the World Cancer Day. The Ministry of Health organized Cancer Day in collaboration with its Partners, including WHO, after an awareness week on cancer prevention.  During this period, Rwandans have been called on to prevent NCDs risk factors, namely tobacco, alcohol, unhealthy diet, and physical inactivity. They also have been urged to practice hygiene and sports in a bid to prevent Non-communicable Diseases which include some cancers that are related to poor hygiene.
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Rwanda banned totally Shisha

Starting Friday 15th of December 2017, Rwanda banned the smoking of water-pipe tobacco popularly known as shisha countrywide.

The Minister of Health, Dr Diane Gashumba issued a ministerial order banning shisha use in country based on WHO’s concerns about the harmful effects of Shisha tobacco on human health and recommendations to all Countries, Parties to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control(FCTC Parties).

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Rwanda celebrated the World Mental Health Day 2017

On 10th October, Rwanda joined other countries all over the World to celebrate the World Mental Health Day under the theme: “Mental Health in the workplace”. The Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Service and Labour and other Partners including WHO, organized in Kigali a national one day Symposium which gathered representatives of employers and employees from the Public and Private Sectors and mental health specialists.

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How can we overcome Malaria threat and make a Rwanda free of Malaria ?

25 April 2017, Rwanda joined the world to commemorate World Malaria Day. It is now time to highlight the need to sustain country efforts and commitment to control and eliminate this life- threatening disease. This year the world malaria day theme is:” Closing the preventive gap for Malaria.” It is thus very imperative to reflect on the achievements made so far, the challenges encountered and the way forward to end Malaria by 2030 in African Region and Rwanda in particular as recommended by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

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Thousands of Rwandans get lifesaving health interventions through the Health week

The Ministry of Health in collaboration with partners including WHO has finalized a fruitful health week with thousands turning up for different health interventions countrywide. The health week was held between 13th-18th March 2017, and it delivered an integrated package of preventive services known to be highly cost-effective for improving maternal and child health, malaria, HIV, Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and malnutrition control interventions. The health week was covered by different media countrywide, print, audio visual, online and community outreach.

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Rwanda employs stringent measures to significantly decline TB incidences

Last Friday 24th March 2017 - Rwanda joined the World to celebrate World Tuberculosis day focusing on the young population in Kigali City. The Ministry of Health through Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC) with partners support, including WHO, has employed stringent ways that have caused a significant decline in Tuberculosis incidences in Rwanda.

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