After the monthly Communal work (Umuganda) on the 25th August 2018 Rwandans countrywide elected an additional Community Health Worker (CHW) to raise the number to 4 per village. Initially each village had 3 CHWs making a total of 45000 CHWs providing health interventions in their respective communities.

“This election of additional Community Health Workers is in line with the guidance from President Paul Kagame to hasten Health for all towards Universal health coverage,” tweeted the Minister of Health, Dr. Diane Gashumba while elections prevailed.

During the 15th leadership retreat (Umwiherero) Community health workers were applauded for their upper hand in disease control and prevention at the community level and that’s when the plan to add to their number was hatched.

Today CHWs treat Malaria, Diarrhea and more disease with in the community while they provide Family planning, nutrition, hygiene interventions and follow up on expectant mothers within the Community. Meanwhile, under 5 mortalities drastically decreased when CHWs started treating children at the grassroots level. An effective CHWs chain is one of the reasons Rwanda achieved the Millennium Development Goals.