Thompson administering albendazole tablets to children Tommy Thompson to support Rwanda in fighting NTDs by Malick Kayumba Tommy G. Thompson, the former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary and four-term Governor of Wisconsin recently concluded a four-day visit to Rwanda. Having recently assumed his new role as Global Ambassador of the Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), Thompson has pledged to support Rwanda in promoting the health sector, especially by fighting NTDs. After his meeting with H.E. President Kagame at Urugwiro Village on Aug. 20, 2008, Thompson stated that im- provement in the health of a country’s popu- lation automatically leads to economic de- velopment. He also acknowledged the re- markable efforts by President Kagame and the Government of Rwanda in reviving health services for all Rwandans after the 1994 genocide. While in Rwanda, Thompson attended in the official launch of the National Mother-Child Health Week in Nyaruguru District on August 19, 2008. Thompson also paid a visit to Rwesero Primary School and Health Center in Gicumbi District for the de-worming cam- paign against intestinal worms and schisto- somiasis. During the school visit, Thompson .................................. Thompson in Rwanda 1 ........................ What is the Access Project? 2 ........................................................ Farewell 2 ...................... Word from the Editor in Chief 2 ...................... Community Health Insurance 3 ................................. Meet the Access team 4 INSIDE ACCESS NEWS September 2008 Volume 1, Number 1 Thompson with school children at Rwesero Primary School said it is crucial that school-aged children are in good health, which is why they will receive drugs for intestinal worms and schistosomia- sis. “If you need good performance at school, to have a better future and partici- pate in the development of your country, you have to be in good health” he concluded. In partnership with the Access Project, the Min- istry of Health administered albendazole and praziquantel drugs against intestinal worms and schistosomiasis to more than five million people in its national de-worming campaign. This was part of the Mother-Child Health week in August. According to recent re- search conducted by TRAC Plus in partner- ship with the Access Project, the highest overall prevalence of intestinal worms is in the Northern Province (83.1%) and the high- est schistosomiasis prevalence was found in Gicumbi District at 69.5%. At the end of his four day visit to Rwanda, Thompson met with the Access Project staff, thanking them for the tremendous efforts they are making in fighting NTDs. www.theaccessproject.com | Kiyovu, Rue du lac Mpanga, No 2106. PO BOX: 7393 Kigali-Rwanda
Transcript
Thompson administering albendazole tablets to children
Tommy Thompson to support Rwanda in fighting NTDs
by Malick Kayumba
Tommy G. Thompson, the former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary and four-term Governor of Wisconsin recently concluded a four-day visit to Rwanda.
Having recently assumed his new role as Global Ambassador of the Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), Thompson has pledged to support Rwanda in promoting the health sector, especially by fighting NTDs. After his meeting with H.E.
President Kagame at Urugwiro Village on Aug. 20, 2008, Thompson stated that im-provement in the health of a country’s popu-lation automatically leads to economic de-velopment. He also acknowledged the re-markable efforts by President Kagame and the Government of Rwanda in reviving health services for all Rwandans after the 1994 genocide.
While in Rwanda, Thompson attended in the official launch of the National Mother-Child Health Week in Nyaruguru District on August 19, 2008. Thompson also paid a visit to Rwesero Primary School and Health Center in Gicumbi District for the de-worming cam-paign against intestinal worms and schisto-somiasis. During the school visit, Thompson
..................................Thompson in Rwanda 1........................What is the Access Project? 2
......................Word from the Editor in Chief 2
......................Community Health Insurance 3.................................Meet the Access team 4INSIDE
ACCESS NEWSSeptember 2008 Volume 1, Number 1
Thompson with school children at Rwesero Primary School
said it is crucial that school-aged children are in good health, which is why they will receive drugs for intestinal worms and schistosomia-sis. “If you need good performance at school, to have a better future and partici-pate in the development of your country, you have to be in good health” he concluded. In partnership with the Access Project, the Min-istry of Health administered albendazole and praziquantel drugs against intestinal worms and schistosomiasis to more than five million people in its national de-worming campaign. This was part of the Mother-Child Health week in August. According to recent re-search conducted by TRAC Plus in partner-ship with the Access Project, the highest overall prevalence of intestinal worms is in the Northern Province (83.1%) and the high-est schistosomiasis prevalence was found in Gicumbi District at 69.5%. At the end of his four day visit to Rwanda, Thompson met with the Access Project staff, thanking them for the tremendous efforts they are making in fighting NTDs.
www.theaccessproject.com | Kiyovu, Rue du lac Mpanga, No 2106. PO BOX: 7393 Kigali-Rwanda
I would like to personally introduce the first volume of Access News, our new project newsletter. This is a great way for us to share recent events, success stories, and news with our partners, authorities, and government leaders. I encourage you all to read Access News regularly, and to contact the editor regarding recent events and stories that you would like to be in-cluded. This way, you can remain up to date on our work and successes out in the field and in the head office.
Dr Blaise Karibushi
Access News Sept. 2008Volume 1, Number 1
Published by Access Project
Kiyovu, Rue du lac Mpanga, No 2106.PO BOX: 7393 Kigali-Rwandawww.theaccessproject.com
Bertin GakombeFrancois KibokoDr. Zimy WansaulaDr. J. M. RukanikigiteroDr. Paul de Rire Habineza
ABOUT USAccess is a Columbia University project that began its work in Rwanda in 2003. It works to expand the capacity and quality of health services in Rwanda by strengthening health system management at the local level. Ac-cess uses a bottom-up approach and works directly with local health centers, where 85% of medical consultations take place, in order to reach those most in need: Rwanda’s poor. Access project also works directly with the Ministry of Health through its Neglected Tropical Diseases program to fight 5 ne-glected tropical diseases namely Soil transmitted helminths, Trachoma, Schistosomiasis, Onchoceriasis and Lymphatic Filiarisis.
A WORD FROM THE EDITOR IN CHIEF
FAREWELL TO AMANDA
GETTING STRONGERAs health, sanitation and education improve in Rwanda, its citizens are increasingly interested in programs and busi-nesses that build prosperity. Foreign investment remains low, and lower still is the number of business people who have shown a willingness to set up in Rwanda and build Rwandan capacity. In every sector of the economy -- tour-ism, agribusiness, financial services, and technology -- there is an overwhelming desire to attract investment and talent to build competitive industries here. Rwandans wish to make their country a middle-income nation by 2020.
Access Project bids farewell to Amanda Miller, an intern from the University of Michigan. The team gave her the Rwandan name Umutoni, because she was a friend of everybody. She is known for her contagious laugh and very hardworking nature. We all miss her.
www.theaccessproject.com | Kiyovu, Rue du lac Mpanga, No 2106. PO BOX: 7393 Kigali-Rwanda
Vestine Kampororo is all smiles as she flashes yellow community insur-ance cards for her two adopted orphans. Her worries are over: she no longer is in debt at the health center and health care for the two orphans is guaranteed for the year. In her 50s, Vestine comes from Mbonwa vil-lage in Bugesera district, the former epicenter of the 1994 genocide and just 57 kilometers south east of the capital, Kigali.
She adopted the elder orphan (now 19 years of age) after the genocide; his parents died in the genocide and are un-known to Vestine. She adopted the younger orphan (now 6) just three years ago, when the child’s mother died. Clad in a black scarf and multicolored Kitenge (a Rwandan dress), Vestine leans back in confidence and excitement in the health manager’s office: “I was in so much debt and dis-tress because I could not afford to pay the medical ex-penses for these children…that is history now.” Vestine lets out a sigh of relief.
Rwanda developed a community health insurance system known as mutuelle de santé in 2002. It costs approximately $2 US per person per year to obtain basic health care cov-erage offered at the health center level. Members covered under this scheme are only required to pay less than half a dollar for all services at the health center during each visit. This provides a huge relief for the majority of the commu-nity living in dire poverty.
The package also includes C-section and minor surgeries provided at the district hospital. Once health center staff determine that they cannot treat a condition, a decision is made to transfer the patient to the district hospital where appropriate treatment is provided under mutuelle coverage. The hospital bill is then covered by the district mutuelle “risk
pooling system” which is a system covered mainly by the government.
Philip Kayibanda, the manager of Mareba Health Center in Bugesera district, met Vestine two years ago. She had been to his office several times to negotiate credit while seeking care for her sick children. Through Philip’s interven-tion, the health center paid the insurance premiums for the two orphans. Despite this relief effort, a critical component was still missing. For one to be fully registered under the scheme, a passport size photograph is required. The photo must be fixed on the insurance card to verify the insurance holder’s identity. The cost of obtaining a photograph is equivalent to one year’s insurance premium or more. Vestine is responsible for feeding five children of her own. As a subsistence farmer, meeting all these needs and health insurance for her orphans was extremely difficult.
In 2007, the Access Project, a joint effort of the Glaser Pro-gress Foundation and Columbia University, found a solution to Vestine’s problem. Using a standard web camera and printer, the project provided photos to more than 15,000 people across three districts. No longer were individuals like Vestine’s orphans denied health insurance simply be-cause they could not afford a photograph. In addition to providing much needed photographs, Access also organ-izes the health insurance scheme by developing manage-ment skills to effectively serve a population of more than
35,000 people per health center. According to Mr. Kayi-banda, insurance enrollment has increased four-fold over the last two years: “The money is much safer and well ac-counted for, too,” he said. The Access Project helps an es-timated two million people in six districts receive health care by developing management skills and providing tools to improve organization, accountability, and efficiency in Rwanda’s growing health care system.
“Thanks to the Access Project’s interventions,” Vestine said, her youngest adopted child remains healthy and will enroll in school this coming year. The older child enjoys good health and helps on the farm. Vestine believes that the once bleak future of the orphans is now bright, thanks to their new health coverage and the Access Project.
SUCCESS STORIES
“I was in so much debt and distress because I could not afford to pay the medical expenses for these children…that is history now.”
www.theaccessproject.com | Kiyovu, Rue du lac Mpanga, No 2106. PO BOX: 7393 Kigali-Rwanda
Fostering teamwork is creating a work culture that values collaboration. In a teamwork environment, people understand and believe that thinking, planning, decisions and actions are better when done cooperatively. People recognize, and even assimilate, the belief that “none of us is as good as all of us.”
–from the book HIGH FIVE
MEET OUR TEAM
Josh RuxinDirector
Dr. Blaise KaribushiCountry Director
Michel Musilikare Finance & Administration
Director
Dr. Denise Mupfasoni NTD Program Coordinator
Dr. David KamugunduSpecialist Team & Re-
search Coordinator
Sonia NtukanyagweAssistant to Country
Director
Dr. Eugene RuberanzizaResearch & Treatment
Coordinator
Teddy KaberukaData Management Spe-
cialist
Bosco NgabonzizaFinancial Management
Specialist
Michee KaberaResearch Specialist
Didier UwizeyeIT Specialist
Aaron MulakiPlanning & Reporting
Specialist
Malick KayumbaIEC & Community Mobili-
zation Officer
Marie Yvonne IngabireAccountant
Aimee IngabireAdministrative Assistant
Therese UwimanaSenior Accountant
Dorine Kayirebwa IEC & Community Mobili-
zation Officer
Naomi Leonard Phizer Global Health
Fellow
Bertin GakombeDistrict Health Advisor(Musanze, Nyabihu)
Dr. Jean M. Rukanikigitero
District Health Advisor(Bugesera)
Francois KibokoMutuelle & HR Specialist
Dr. Paul de Rire Habineza
District Health Advisor(Gakenke)
Dr. Zimy WansaulaPharmacy Specialist
Gaspard KabandaData Analyst
www.theaccessproject.com | Kiyovu, Rue du lac Mpanga, No 2106. PO BOX: 7393 Kigali-Rwanda
