Rwanda: Rwanda Needs to Take the Fight Against NCDs Beyond Hospitals
[New Times] Rwanda has spent three decades making significant progress in the fight against infectious diseases. Malaria, HIV and child mortality have all declined dramatically. But the country's healthcare sector is changing. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including heart disease, cancer, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases, are now responsible for a growing share of deaths.
Rwanda has made significant progress in combating infectious diseases, but now faces a growing threat from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes and chronic respiratory illnesses. In 2024, NCDs accounted for 47.7% of deaths in health facilities and 59.3% of deaths in communities. While Rwanda has made strides in reducing risk factors like physical inactivity and tobacco use, overweight and obesity rates are increasing, particularly in urban areas.
Only 47.9% of adults have had their blood pressure checked, and 88.5% have never had their blood sugar tested, indicating a significant screening gap. Interventions like Finland's North-Karelia program, which successfully reduced cardiovascular mortality through community-wide initiatives, offer valuable lessons for Rwanda. Rwanda should expand NCD screening, involve community health workers, and collaborate across sectors to make healthy choices more accessible.
Written by urgent.news from AllAfrica Health's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
