Health Minister Ngamije on Rwanda's plan to tackle non-communicable diseases

Yesterday at the World Health Summit, Rwanda presented the country's five-year strategy to reduce premature mortality from non-communicable diseases in efforts to achieve a sustainable development goal. For these two, they achieved the country is taking $699.1 million. Here is Daniel Gammiger, Minister of Health in Runder, for more. We have entities and injuries in the country with a huge burden, almost 59% of cases that we are getting in our health facilities. Only last year we had 34,000 new NCDs enrolled in our system. Since 1990, we had an increase of delays associated with NCDs, affecting the productivity of our population. The country is facing a problem of late detection of NCDs, like for blood pressure. It's alarming that 40% of patients present with heart failure for the first time at level 3 up to class 4. The number of cardiovascular diseases increased drastically from 25,000 to 88 from 2018 to 2020. Despite successes in reducing maternal and infant mortality, Rwanda now turns its focus to tackling the escalating NCDs in the country. The coverage rate for detection of these diseases is dismally low, at 7.5% for asthma and even lower for diabetes. The need for increased screening and early detection is crucial to stem the rising tide of NCDs. The COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted the impact of NCDs, with 90% of deaths related to the virus having comorbidities of NCDs. Early access to health facilities and timely detection have proven to be crucial in reducing mortality rates. The Ministry of Health in Rwanda states that NCDs and injuries are the leading causes of death and disability, with almost 59% of cases reported. To combat this, Rwanda has finalized its strategic plan for NCDs and is now focusing on mobilizing resources, including domestic funds. The country is emphasizing the need for universal health coverage to improve early detection of NCDs, as the current expenditure on these diseases remains relatively low at only 0.8% to 2% of the health budget. By investing in prevention and detection, Rwanda aims to address the increasing burden of NCDs. The five-year plan costs $699.1 million and includes activities such as raising community awareness, improving detection, and investing in necessary equipment for early identification. Clear policies to reduce NCDs in the country will play a significant role in achieving Universal Health Coverage for these diseases. Rwanda's strategy is expected to benefit around 4.8 million people, focusing on prevention through health promotion, early detection, and reduction of risk factors. The country anticipates an increase in life expectancy and a reduction in disease burden by 2025 through comprehensive NCD management. Economic gains are also expected, with each averted death in Rwanda translating to a financial benefit ranging from $400 to $2,000. To achieve these goals, Rwanda will enhance NCD case management, increase early detection, treatment, and care, and collaborate with government and partner resources to reach Sustainable Development Goal 3.4.