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By François
The Rwanda NGOs Forum, in partnership with the Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC) and the Global Fund, has launched the Integrated Community-Led Monitoring (iCLM) project. The initiative, introduced on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, in Gisagara District, aims to improve healthcare services for people affected by HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis (TB), and Malaria.
Ngabonzima Louis, the Project Manager at Rwanda NGOs Forum, said the project will give patients a voice in assessing healthcare quality.
“This initiative will rely on community representatives from groups most vulnerable to these diseases,” he explained.
“For Malaria, we are focusing on rice farmers and miners, as they are the most affected here. For HIV/AIDS, key groups include the LGBTQ+ community, sex workers, and adolescents. For TB, we will engage those who have recovered and those at high risk.”
Local leaders and residents welcomed the project, saying it would improve accountability in healthcare services.
Pascal Ndayizeye, a resident of the Gishubi Sector, said it would make it easier for patients to report concerns.
“Even though it hasn’t started yet, I can already see how helpful it will be,” he said.
“Patients will have a way to report issues immediately, and healthcare workers will know their services are being monitored.”
Gisagara Vice Mayor Denise Dusabe, in charge of Social Affairs, said the project will help identify and fix challenges quickly.
“The data collected will guide us in finding solutions,” she said. “It will improve healthcare services and ensure patients receive better care.”
She urged residents to provide honest feedback to help improve the system.
The iCLM project will first be rolled out in five districts Gasabo, Gisagara, Rwamagana, Rulindo, and Rubavu chosen due to their high prevalence of Malaria, TB, and HIV/AIDS. Each district will have four selected health centers, two in rural areas and two in urban areas.
After six months, an evaluation will determine whether the project will be expanded nationwide.
According to 2024 statistics from RBC, Rwanda has over 230,000 people living with HIV/AIDS, with a prevalence rate of 2.6% among adults aged 15 to 49. Of those, 96% know their status, and 98% are on treatment.
In the 2023-2024 fiscal year, Malaria affected 45 out of every 1,000 people annually, while TB cases ranged from 42 to 72 per 100,000 people in 2021.
