Comments on: Headed to Rwanda http://www.one.org/blog/2008/07/08/1956/ Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:15:07 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: a http://www.one.org/blog/2008/07/08/1956/#comment-548094 a Mon, 28 Jul 2008 17:04:20 +0000 http://www.one.org/blog/2008/07/08/1956/#comment-548094 Transparency and private sector donations play a big part! Transparency and private sector donations play a big part!

]]> By: Laura Hoemeke http://www.one.org/blog/2008/07/08/1956/#comment-547728 Laura Hoemeke Thu, 17 Jul 2008 18:25:22 +0000 http://www.one.org/blog/2008/07/08/1956/#comment-547728 IntraHealth International is thrilled to welcome this impressive delegation to Rwanda! Working hand-in-hand with the Government of Rwanda, IntraHealth is proud to be a member of the large team of development partners working to support Rwanda’s health system. Rwanda’s national health care system has made dramatic improvements over the past couple of years, with strong leadership of the Government of Rwanda. Under-five child mortality has dropped from 152/1000 in 2005 to 103/1000 in early 2008; and infant mortality from 86/1000 to 62/1000 in the same period. Rwanda also has achieved unprecedented increases in the use of family planning nationwide, from 10% in 2005 to 27% today. Malaria prevalence also has decreased; in 2005 malaria represented nearly 40% of all cases in health centers, and just two years later, only 15% of clients in health centers came because of malaria-related symptoms, Change happens quickly in Rwanda, thanks to the progressive policies and programs supported--and often demanded--by the Government of Rwanda, and thanks to the transparent use of government and donor resources. US government resources, including those from PEPFAR and the Presidential Malaria Initiative, have contributed greatly to both to reducing transmission of HIV and of malaria, and to supporting and strengthening the overall health care system. So much positive change has taken place in Rwanda that it’s impossible to attribute improvements to specific programs or partners. But maybe it’s not necessary to attribute, focusing instead on the overall impact on the quality of life and the number of lives saved collectively when resources are appropriately used. Rwanda’s health care sector is setting a great example, and it is inspiring to be a part of it! IntraHealth International is thrilled to welcome this impressive delegation to Rwanda! Working hand-in-hand with the Government of Rwanda, IntraHealth is proud to be a member of the large team of development partners working to support Rwanda’s health system.

Rwanda’s national health care system has made dramatic improvements over the past couple of years, with strong leadership of the Government of Rwanda. Under-five child mortality has dropped from 152/1000 in 2005 to 103/1000 in early 2008; and infant mortality from 86/1000 to 62/1000 in the same period. Rwanda also has achieved unprecedented increases in the use of family planning nationwide, from 10% in 2005 to 27% today. Malaria prevalence also has decreased; in 2005 malaria represented nearly 40% of all cases in health centers, and just two years later, only 15% of clients in health centers came because of malaria-related symptoms,

Change happens quickly in Rwanda, thanks to the progressive policies and programs supported–and often demanded–by the Government of Rwanda, and thanks to the transparent use of government and donor resources. US government resources, including those from PEPFAR and the Presidential Malaria Initiative, have contributed greatly to both to reducing transmission of HIV and of malaria, and to supporting and strengthening the overall health care system.

So much positive change has taken place in Rwanda that it’s impossible to attribute improvements to specific programs or partners. But maybe it’s not necessary to attribute, focusing instead on the overall impact on the quality of life and the number of lives saved collectively when resources are appropriately used. Rwanda’s health care sector is setting a great example, and it is inspiring to be a part of it!

]]> By: Steve http://www.one.org/blog/2008/07/08/1956/#comment-547726 Steve Thu, 17 Jul 2008 17:18:20 +0000 http://www.one.org/blog/2008/07/08/1956/#comment-547726 Showing these leaders the lifesaving work that is happening on the ground in Rwanda--and why these efforts must be continued and expanded by the next President and Congress--is smart and neccessary advocacy work. I think this article in The Nation sums the value of the ONE Rwanda Trip up well: http://news.yahoo.com/s/thenation/20080709/cm_thenation/45335629&printer=1;_ylt=AjtjA2eUlSxMUCCiAcv8h0A__8QF I'm looking forward to hearing more once the delegatoin gets to Rwanda. Showing these leaders the lifesaving work that is happening on the ground in Rwanda–and why these efforts must be continued and expanded by the next President and Congress–is smart and neccessary advocacy work.

I think this article in The Nation sums the value of the ONE Rwanda Trip up well: http://news.yahoo.com/s/thenation/20080709/cm_thenation/45335629&printer=1;_ylt=AjtjA2eUlSxMUCCiAcv8h0A__8QF

I’m looking forward to hearing more once the delegatoin gets to Rwanda.

]]> By: Michelle Kouletio http://www.one.org/blog/2008/07/08/1956/#comment-547649 Michelle Kouletio Tue, 15 Jul 2008 20:13:18 +0000 http://www.one.org/blog/2008/07/08/1956/#comment-547649 A coalition led by One members' Concern Worldwide, the IRC, and World Relief is making tremendous inroads to combat the 14% child deaths rates in Rwanda, largely caused by malaria, diarrhea, and pneumonia. With $4 million in USAID Child Survival funding we are working with six districts reaching 20% of Rwanda's children under-five with community-level prevention and treatment of these leading killer diseases. Since its inception 18 months ago 145,803 children have been treated for malaria and 6,741 for diarrhea by community based health works trained, equiped and supervised by our project, Kabeho Mwana ("The Living Child"). Recently we broke major ground towards mortality reduction by adding pneumonia treatment to the community health workers' range of services. Sinc February this year, 736 children have been treated for pneumonia in Kirehe District alone. We invite the ONE Vote 08 Delegation to visit this program in Kirehe District, a 90 minute drive from Kigali. There they could see and hear first hand the impact of this work directly from the families that it serves. A coalition led by One members’ Concern Worldwide, the IRC, and World Relief is making tremendous inroads to combat the 14% child deaths rates in Rwanda, largely caused by malaria, diarrhea, and pneumonia. With $4 million in USAID Child Survival funding we are working with six districts reaching 20% of Rwanda’s children under-five with community-level prevention and treatment of these leading killer diseases. Since its inception 18 months ago 145,803 children have been treated for malaria and 6,741 for diarrhea by community based health works trained, equiped and supervised by our project, Kabeho Mwana (”The Living Child”). Recently we broke major ground towards mortality reduction by adding pneumonia treatment to the community health workers’ range of services. Sinc February this year, 736 children have been treated for pneumonia in Kirehe District alone.

We invite the ONE Vote 08 Delegation to visit this program in Kirehe District, a 90 minute drive from Kigali. There they could see and hear first hand the impact of this work directly from the families that it serves.

]]> By: Natalie Sugira http://www.one.org/blog/2008/07/08/1956/#comment-547474 Natalie Sugira Wed, 09 Jul 2008 19:05:22 +0000 http://www.one.org/blog/2008/07/08/1956/#comment-547474 Thank you Mr. Lane for taking the initiative to take these powerful voices to Rwanda. As you know it takes a political will to change what seems impossible. PEPFAR has helped but the work is far from over.Our next president needs and should witness the work done to fight poverty in the fields. Rwanda has been a good example of what can be achieved when American political works at its best, or at least tries. There is a need for Rwandans to tell their own stories, and I applaud One for leading this effort. This team will get to hear and see those whose lives have been saved, and there is no book or report that could describe what this team will be able to witness. Thank you Mr. Lane for taking the initiative to take these powerful voices to Rwanda. As you know it takes a political will to change what seems impossible. PEPFAR has helped but the work is far from over.Our next president needs and should witness the work done to fight poverty in the fields. Rwanda has been a good example of what can be achieved when American political works at its best, or at least tries. There is a need for Rwandans to tell their own stories, and I applaud One for leading this effort. This team will get to hear and see those whose lives have been saved, and there is no book or report that could describe what this team will be able to witness.

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