Non Communicable Diseases

NCDs IN RWANDA

Non-communicable diseases are quietly reshaping the health landscape across Rwanda. Diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, chronic kidney disease, and chronic respiratory illnesses are on the rise, and for many patients, a diagnosis only comes when complications are already advanced and treatment far more difficult. 

Since 2007, Partners In Health (PIH), known locally as Inshuti Mu Buzima (IMB), has worked alongside the Rwanda Ministry of Health to change that reality. Operating across three districts, Kirehe, Kayonza and Burera, PIH/IMB has built an integrated approach to NCD care that reaches patients through hospitals, health centers, and community-based services, supporting more than 15,000 patients to date. 

The program covers the full continuum of chronic disease care, combining clinical interventions with holistic social support. This includes community screening and referral, diabetes and hypertension management, chronic kidney and cardiovascular care, and reliable access to essential medicines and diagnostic tools.  

Alongside patient education and digital health systems for long-term follow-up, PIH/IMB provides vital social support to help patients stay in care, offering transport fares to and from hospitals, food packages, education support, and housing assistance to those who need it most. This comprehensive approach empowers patients to effectively manage their conditions and significantly reduce complications from chronic illness.

DECENTRALIZING CARE

Through task-shifting, we train nurses to manage responsibilities traditionally reserved for physicians, such as prescribing basic NCD medications. This approach effectively brings specialized care to rural health centers and district hospitals, offering a scalable solution to physician shortages. By integrating the clinical management of hypertension, heart failure, diabetes, and asthma, the program maximizes the impact of limited health resources.

CAPACITY BUILDING

We provide regular training on the diagnosis and management of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) for clinical staff across our three supported district hospitals. 

Our comprehensive approach to capacity building includes: 

• Specialized Clinical Mentorship: Hospital staff receive monthly mentorship from specialists, including a cardiologist, a nephrologist, and an endocrinologist. 
• Targeted & Non-Clinical Skills: We teach essential clinic management, administration, and organization skills, tailoring individualized training programs to address pre-identified gaps. 
• Advanced Clinical Training: Nurses at NCD clinics are trained in echocardiography—a critical tool for managing heart failure. 
• A Sustainable Training Model: As NCD clinics expand nationwide, we onboard new staff with ongoing mentorship. District hospital nurses are trained as experts, allowing them to cascade this knowledge and train nurses at local health centers.

MEDICAL INNOVATIONS

PIH/IMB leverages cutting-edge medical innovations to improve the patient experience, alleviate treatment fatigue, and bring care directly to patients’ communities so they do not have to constantly travel to medical facilities. 

Key innovations deployed to enhance patient well-being and care delivery include: 

• Zipline Drone Delivery: Transporting insulin directly to patients  
• Insulin Pens: Substituting traditional, complex injections with user-friendly insulin pens. 

We continue to explore and develop additional patient-centered innovations to further optimize care and improve long-term outcomes. The innovations in the pipeline include: 

• Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM): Provides advanced, real-time tracking for diabetes management. 
• Telemedicine: Enables remote clinical consultations and follow-ups.

SCALING UP

As the Government of Rwanda works to implement NCD clinics nationwide, we continue to provide critical technical support. We collaborate with the Ministry of Health (MOH) to establish implementation workplans, ensuring that all 30 districts have robust, well-equipped, and well-staffed NCD clinics integrated into the primary care structure. To elevate clinical outcomes, data collection, and research, we are co-developing new national paper and electronic reporting forms. Additionally, our monitoring and evaluation team ensures clinics meet national standards and adhere to set protocols, partnering with MOH staff to reduce patient waiting times and minimize loss to follow-up.