International Journal of Health Policy and Management

International Journal of Health Policy and Management

Improving the World’s Health through the Post-2015 Development Agenda: Perspectives from Rwanda

Document Type : Perspective

Authors
Agnes Binagwaho 1, 2, 3
Kirstin W Scott 4
1 Minister of Health, Kigali, Rwanda
2 Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
3 Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth University, Hanover, NH, USA
4 Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
10.15171/ijhpm.2015.46
Abstract
The world has made a great deal of progress through the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to improve the health and well-being of people around the globe, but there remains a long way to go. Here we provide reflections on Rwanda’s experience in working to meet the health-related targets of the MDGs. This experience has informed our proposal of five guiding principles that may be useful for countries to consider as the world sets and moves forward with the post-2015 development agenda. These include: 1) advancing concrete and meaningful equity agendas that drive the post-2015 goals; 2) ensuring that goals to meet Universal Health Coverage (UHC) incorporate real efforts to focus on improving quality and not only quantity of care; 3) bolstering education and the internal research capacity within countries so that they can improve local evidence-based policy-making; 4) promoting intersectoral collaboration to achieve goals, and 5) improving collaborations between multilateral agencies – that are helping to monitor and evaluate progress towards the goals that are set – and the countries that are working to achieve improvements in health within their nation and across the world

Highlights

Commentaries Published on this Paper

  • Sustaining Health for Wealth: Perspectives for the Post-2015 Agenda; Comment on “Improving the World’s Health Through the Post-2015 Development Agenda: Perspectives From Rwanda”

            Abstract | PDF

  • Moving Toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC) to Achieve Inclusive and Sustainable Health Development: Three Essential Strategies Drawn From Asian Experience; Comment on “Improving the World’s Health Through the Post-2015 Development Agenda: Perspectives from Rwanda”

            Abstract | PDF

  • Achieving a “Grand Convergence” in Global Health by 2035: Rwanda Shows the Way; Comment on “Improving the World’s Health Through the Post-2015 Development Agenda: Perspectives From Rwanda”

            Abstract | PDF

  • Lessons and Leadership in Health; Comment on “Improving the World’s Health through the Post-2015 Development Agenda: Perspectives from Rwanda”

            Abstract | PDF

 

Authors’ Response to the Commentaries

  • Learning Valuable Perspectives on Improving the World’s Health Through the Post-2015 Development Agenda: A Response to Recent Commentaries

            Abstract | PDF

Keywords
Post-2015 Development Agenda
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
Global Health
Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)
Universal Health Coverage (UHC)
Rwanda
Subjects
  1. United Nations. United Nations Millennium Development Goals [Internet]. [cited 2015 Jan 10]. Available from: http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/beyond2015-overview.shtml
  2. Binagwaho A, Farmer PE, Nsanzimana S, Karema C, Gasana M, de Dieu Ngirabega J, et al. Rwanda 20 years on: investing in life. Lancet 2014; 384: 371-5. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(14)60574-2
  3. Farmer PE, Nutt CT, Wagner CM, Sekabaraga C, Nuthulaganti T, Weigel JL, et al. Reduced premature mortality in Rwanda: lessons from success. BMJ 2013; 346: f65. doi: 10.1136/bmj.f65
  4. Government of Rwanda. Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy (EDPRS2) [Internet]. 2013 [cited 2015 Jan 4]. Available from: http://www.edprs.rw/content/edprs-2
  5. United Nations Rwanda. Economic Growth and Environment [Internet]. [cited 2014 Nov 25]. Available from: http://www.rw.one.un.org/what-we-do/inclusive-economic-transformation
  6. Omaswa F, Crisp N. African Health Leaders: Making Change and Claiming the Future. Oxford University Press; 2014.
  7. The World Bank. Gender Equality Data and Statistics - Rwanda [Internet]. [cited 2015 Jan 6]. Available from: http://databank.worldbank.org/data/Views/Reports/ReportWidgetCustom.aspx?                Report_Name=GS_CN_1&Id=64636f7e&tb=y&dd=n&pr=n&dw=y&xlbl=y&ylbl=y                &legend=y&wd=420&ht=340&isportal=y&inf=n&exptypes=Excel&country=RWA
  8. Inter-Parliamentary Union. Women in Parliaments: World Classification [Internet]. [cited 2014 Dec 29]. Available from: http://www.ipu.org/wmn-e/classif.htm
  9. Rwanda Governance Board. Ubudehe [Internet]. [cited 2015 Feb 24]. Available from: http://www.rgb.rw/governance-innovations/ubudehe/
  10. Vega J. Universal health coverage: the post-2015 development agenda. Lancet 2013; 381: 179-80. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(13)60062-8
  11. Musangoi L, Makakaii A, Muhongerwaiii D, Kalisaiv IR, Elovainiov R. Strategies towards universal health coverage in Rwanda: lessons learned from extending coverage through mutual health organizations [Internet]. Afr Health Obs [cited 2015 Feb 25]. Available from: http://www.aho.afro.who.int/pt-pt/ahm/issue/17/reports/         strategies-towards-universal-health-coverage-rwanda-lessons-learned-extending
  12. Scott KW, Jha AK. Putting Quality on the Global Health Agenda. N Engl J Med 2014; 371: 3-5. doi: 10.1056/nejmp1402157
  13. Binagwaho A, Kyamanywa P, Farmer PE, Nuthulaganti T, Umubyeyi B, Nyemazi JP, et al. The Human Resources for Health Program in Rwanda — A New Partnership. N Engl J Med 2013; 369: 2054-9. doi: 10.1056/NEJMsr1302176
  14. Mbonyinshuti JD. Public hospitals urged to work hard to earn international accreditation [Internet]. New Times Rwanda [cited 2015 Jan 5]. Available from: http://www.newtimes.co.rw/section/article/2014-10-06/181651/
  15. Anatole M, Magge H, Redditt V, Karamaga A, Niyonzima S, Drobac P, et al. Nurse mentorship to improve the quality of health care delivery in rural Rwanda. Nurs Outlook 2013; 61: 137–44. doi: 10.1016/j.outlook.2012.10.003
  16. United Nations. Vision & Mission for the Digital He@lth Initiative [Internet]. [cited 2014 Dec 11]. Available from: http://www.un.org/partnerships/Docs/DHIVision&Mission.pdf
  17. Ben-Ari N. Big dreams for Rwanda’s ICT sector – Africa Renewal Online [Internet]. [cited 2015 Jan 15]. Available from: http://www.un.org/africarenewal/magazine/april-2014/big-dreams-rwanda%E2%80%99s-ict-sector
  18. Binagwaho A, Nyatanyi T, Nutt CT, Wagner CM. Disease outbreaks: Support for a cholera vaccine stockpile. Nature 2012; 487: 39. doi: 10.1038/487039c
  19. Ngabo F, Nguimfack J, Nwaigwe F, Mugeni C, Muhoza D, Wilson DR, et al. Designing and Implementing an Innovative SMS-based alert system (RapidSMS-MCH) to monitor pregnancy and reduce maternal and child deaths in Rwanda. Pan Afr Med J 2012;13: 31.
  20. Binagwaho A. Preparation Is Paramount. Finance Dev 2014; 51: 33.
  21. Binagwaho A, Ngabo F, Mugeni C, et al. Discrepant estimates of key indicators for Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5: the public sector’s experience in Rwanda. Lancet 17; 381: S16. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(13)61270-2
  22. National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda. Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) [Internet]. [cited 2015 Jan 10]. Available from: http://www.statistics.gov.rw/survey/demographic-and-health-survey-dhs

  • Received Date 11 December 2014
  • Revised Date 11 February 2015
  • Accepted Date 27 February 2015
  • First Published Date 01 April 2015
  • Published Date 01 April 2015