New health care programme to address critical human resource shortage by distributing highly-skilled health professionals across Rwanda.

On Monday, 15 October 2012, the US Government’s Global AIDS Coordinator, Ambassador Eric Goosby, launched the Rwanda Human Resources for Health (HRH) programme, a seven-year partnership with the Government of Rwanda; the United States Government; The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria; and 14 US medical, nursing and public health schools.

According to the New York Times, these stakeholders have collectively committed $152 million to the seven-year programme.

The HRH programme encompasses a partnership with American institutions through 2019 to ensure that Rwanda’s health sciences education system produces the quality and quantity of health professionals and medical faculty necessary to serve the country’s population of 11 million and to guarantee a sufficient supply in the future. 

The programme will bring nearly 100 US faculty members and their families to Rwanda each year for the duration of the programme. The number of Americans will decline over time as newly trained Rwandan faculty members assume teaching and mentorship roles.  

In line with the Government of Rwanda’s drive for equitable economic development, the HRH programme will address the critical human resources shortage in Rwanda by developing a world-class health care system that equitably distributes highly-skilled health professionals in the country.

The Honorable Minister of Health, Dr. Agnes Binagwaho also said that, “The US Government and US academic institutions participating in the HRH programme have made an unprecedented commitment to global health.”

“Through this revolutionary programme, Rwanda will be able to develop a self sustaining robust health care system independent of foreign aid.”

Read the full story on the Africa edition of ehospice.