Reaching Rwanda’s Underserved Adolescent Population

Using schools, health centers and communities as agents of social change

Situation

Rwanda’s population of more than 11 million is the most densely concentrated in Africa. Fertility rates are among the highest in the continent, despite recent evidence of declining fertility desires. 34 percent of Rwanda’s population is between 10 and 24 years of age. Rwanda’s large and growing adolescent population remains underserved and lacks adequate access to reproductive health knowledge and services.

Solutions

Rwandan IntraHealth/International policy and development directors, Jean Marie Sinari and Emile Sempabwa, participated in RGH’s 7‐Day MPH online program which inspired them to promote the Adolescent Reproductive Health (ARH) Initiative. Their unique public health mission was to, “seek by all means how young people can have a good reproductive health.” The vision was that Rwanda health centers have an integrated package of services for the youth of secondary schools to promote good health. They also wanted to build support for such services among health, education, civil society professionals and officials.

Success

Despite several challenges encountered by the project, the IntraHealth team was able to organize technical workshops in Nyarugenge District to orient teachers, health providers and community representatives in ARH components and strategies that involve students through innovative games expressing ARH. In addition, in collaboration with the Imbuto Foundation they identified Peer Educators in three school sites, conducted baseline assessments in the Nyarugenge and Gicumbi Districts and organized technical workshops to finalize the baseline preparatory activities. Jean Marie and Emile have planned their work and followed the checklists they developed to ensure quality, efficient and consistent services are provided at every step. Their program is now the ARH role model in their region and they are sharing their experiences with others to inspire them to realize their role in health every day.

About this Series

RGH’s 7-Day online programs provide participants with dynamic capacity building solutions that empower real country-led development. This series highlights the success of participants as they strive to bring better health and well-being to their communities and countries.