Open Access#12014
Rwanda 20 years on: investing in life
Binagwaho, Agnes; Farmer, Paul E; Nsanzimana, Sabin; Karema, Corine; Gasana, Michel; de Dieu Ngirabega, Jean; Ngabo, Fidele; Wagner, Claire M
Binagwaho, Agnes; Farmer, Paul E; Nsanzimana, Sabin; Karema, Corine; Gasana, Michel; de Dieu Ngirabega, Jean; Ngabo, Fidele; Wagner, Claire M; Nutt, Cameron T; Nyatanyi, Thierry; Gatera, Maurice; Kayiteshonga, Yvonne; Mugeni, Cathy; Mugwaneza, Placidie; Shema, Joseph; Uwaliraye, Parfait; Gaju, Erick; Muhimpundu, Marie Aimee; Dushime, Theophile; Senyana, Florent; Mazarati, Jean Baptiste; Gaju, Celsa Muzayire; Tuyisenge, Lisine; Mutabazi, Vincent; Kyamanywa, Patrick; Rusanganwa, Vincent; Nyemazi, Jean Pierre; Umutoni, Agathe; Kankindi, Ida; Ntizimira, Christian; Ruton, Hinda; Mugume, Nathan; Nkunda, Denis; Ndenga, Espérance; Mubiligi, Joel M; Kakoma, Jean Baptiste; Karita, Etienne; Sekabaraga, Claude; Rusingiza, Emmanuel; Rich, Michael L; Mukherjee, Joia S; Rhatigan, Joseph; Cancedda, Corrado; Bertrand-Farmer, Didi; Bukhman, Gene; Stulac, Sara N; Tapela, Neo M; van der Hoof Holstein, Cassia; Shulman, Lawrence N; Habinshuti, Antoinette
Two decades ago, the genocide against the Tutsis in Rwanda led to the deaths of 1 million people, and the displacement of millions more. Injury and trauma were followed by the effects of a devastated health system and economy. In the years that followed, a new course set by a new government set into motion equity-oriented national policies focusing on social cohesion and people-centred development. Premature mortality rates have fallen precipitously in recent years, and life expectancy has doubled since the mid-1990s. Here we reflect on the lessons learned in rebuilding Rwanda's health sector during the past two decades, as the country now prepares itself to take on new challenges in health-care delivery.