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. WHO provided a technical and financial support to the organization of the health week.

Some of the key events of the health week included the launching of the Adolescent/Parent booklet which will facilitate reproductive health talks between parents and children and the launch of the Fortified Blended Food (FBF), a complementary food for children and pregnant mothers to support in the fight against malnutrition. 

During the health week, places that are usually hard to access were reached with different interventions such as family planning, nutrition, deworming for children under15, etc. The week showed a big upsurge in people enrolled on modern family planning methods.  The health week served also to reduce ignorance on family planning and other health priorities. Citizens testified: “The health week is an answer to most of us. I finally get the chance to use modern family planning after having six children,” said   lady named Marceline Majambere, Musanze District resident. A man named Egide Manirakiza, Burera District resident said: “I have learnt and screened for non-communicable diseases. I have realized that we have often confusing such diseases with witchcraft”. 

At the closure ceremony of the health week on 18th march, in Gicumbi District, the Minister of Health, and Dr. Diane Gashumba called upon Rwandans to jointly prevent diseases to ensure good health. “We don’t want any Rwandan to die of malaria as for example, you are given free mosquito nets, medicine is also always available and the government has even committed to give to the first and second level of “Ubudehe”(the poorest) free malaria drugs,” stressed the Minister of Health.

The Representative of the UN Family, Dr Celse Rugambwa, EPI/WHO recalled the importance of the health week where communities are receiving at the same time many health interventions, in particular the vaccination for the children, in their villages. He also reiterated the continuous support of WHO and the entire UN family to the health sector efforts in improving the health status of the communities. The previous health week was organized in Nyabihu District in January 2017.

For more information, please contact:

Mr. Gaspard HABARUREMA, Rwanda Health Communication Center, e mail: gaspardhabarurema [at] gmail.com ( )  

Mr Jean Bosco GASHEREBUKA, HPR, e-mail: gasherebukab [at] who.int  

Below:

1- The Minister of Health, Dr Diane Gashumba vaccinating a pupil on HPV

2- Administration of deworming tablet by the Representative of the UN Family, Dr CelseRugambwa, EPI WHO