Quarterly Newsletter - 15 October 2021

Breast Cancer and Cervical Cancer Awareness

October is Breast cancer awareness month! This month, we are working on different activities of breast cancer awareness and breast examination. On October 12 2021, The Ministry of Health of Rwanda, Rwanda Biomedical Center & key partners, including Rwanda NCD Alliance, officially launched the Rwanda national campaign themed "Diagnose Breast Cancer & Cervical Cancer as they are treated & cured" at Nyarurenzi Health Center (Kigali).

Apart from that, on October 8, 2021, Rwanda NCD Alliance and Breast Cancer Initiative East Africa hosted the celebration of this month with breast cancer survivors. It was a good opportunity to share their daily living experiences and recommendations to reduce the mortality rate of breast cancer in Rwanda and improve the overall life of breast cancer survivors and people living with breast cancer. 

The Launch of the National Strategy plan and Costed Action and NCD Situation analysis

Ministry of Health-Rwanda has officially launched the National strategy and costed action plan for the prevention and control of Non-Communicable Diseases in Rwanda (2020-2025), which has four main priority areas, namely:

• Preventing NCDs through health promotion and reduction of risk factors.
• Strengthening health systems for quality NCD early detection, care, and treatment at all levels.
• Strengthening disease surveillance and research, alongside robust monitoring and evaluation, for evidence-based intervention
• Strengthening intersectoral coordination, advocacy, and resource mobilization for the prevention and control of NCDs.

During the celebration, it was a great opportunity to present findings of National situational analysis for universal health coverage on NCDs carried out by Rwanda NCD Alliance in partnership with Rwanda Biomedical centre under the support of NCD Alliance as complementary to this National strategy plan. 

Read more about the launch»

World Heart Day 2021

On 29 September of every year, it is World Heart Day. RNCDA joined the rest of the world in its celebration themed “Use Heart to Connect.” This day was celebrated through the training of journalists and young people from different RNCDA Members’ organizations and branches to equip them with information on cardiovascular diseases, non-communicable disease risk factors in general, and the role of family members in healthy nutrition. Journalists and young people are vital agents of change in driving the efforts in advocacy and awareness on Non-Communicable Diseases. More than 100 youth and 15 Journalists were trained. 

Press release»

Best weight loser Award Ceremony 

Obesity is one of the risk factors for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). On September 18th, 2021, Care4Them Wellness Organisation, in Partnership with Rwanda Biomedical Centre and Rwanda NCD Alliance, started a campaign against NCDs by launching a Weight Loss & Wellness Show on Rwanda Television every Saturday at 3:30 pm - 3:55 pm and every Tuesday 9:30 am - 9:55 am.
The Show is happening for 90 days and features 16 participants accompanied by both certified Nutritionists and sports coaches to guide and support them through the length of the program. The Organization reported successful results at the end of the 90 days, with the biggest weight loser dropping 26.9kg in only three months. The Show was also designed to raise awareness about NCDs, risk factors, and preventive measures across the country.

Car-free day Resumption 

Car Free Day was implemented in 2016 with the goal of making Kigali a green city while mobilizing city residents to live an active lifestyle; the bi-monthly mass sport is done to prevent non-communicable diseases.  It has been temporarily suspended in order to contain the spread of Covid-19. However,  Rwanda NCD Alliance brought an innovative and digital approach titled RTV Fitness Show aired on Rwanda Television under the name of ZONE FITNESS every weekend on Saturday from 8 am-9 am, and Sunday 6 am - 7 am. Fortunately, Car-free day has recently resumed on 26th September 2021. It is happening every first and third week of the month as normal. Both Car Free Day and Fitness Show Program will continue together to increase public engagement in physical activities, taking into account the number of people who will be unable to attend the physical car-free day.

Our Views, Our Voices: Support Group of People Living with NCDs

Through the Our Views Our Voices project, Rwanda NCD Alliance has initiated a Support group for People Living with NCDs, with its first implementation being at the Remera Rukoma Hospital during the Global Week for Action on NCDs (2021) under the theme "Engaging communities for action". This initiative was realized after a series of conversations and consultative meetings conducted with people living with NCDs that identified the gaps in knowledge, emotional support, stigma, and discrimination around NCDs. It aims to gather people living with NCDs views around the same table to empower and listen to what they have to say as far as the NCD response is concerned. Moreover, it was an opportunity to share daily living experiences and start socio-economic empowerment initiatives. Based on the initiative's success, there is hope that it will be expanded to other health facilities.

RNCDA welcomes NCDs Advisory Committee on board

Rwanda Non-Communicable Diseases Alliance would like to welcome the Advisory Committee on Universal Health Coverage for Non-Communicable Diseases.

This committee will support the existing management team of Rwanda NCD Alliance in inclusive advocacy for UHC on NCDs, discuss the advocacy opportunities, required efforts, and strategic approach to address the identified challenges.

The committee's mission is to contribute to efforts and create a powerful voice for the NCDs awareness rising, advocate for the prevention and control of NCDs and their risk factors in Rwanda.

Know your numbers at Workplace!

This is a unique initiative at the Rwanda NCD Alliance office for staff and visitors. It allows and encourages them to self-check their blood pressure, blood glucose, and Body Mass Index (BMI) regularly due to the fact that Non-Communicable Diseases are silent killers.

Likewise, we would like to encourage other institutions/organizations to launch a similar initiative in their respective workplaces in order to incorporate early detection of Non-communicable Diseases into daily activities.

MEDSAR is celebrating its 25 years Anniversary!

The Medical Students Association of Rwanda is celebrating its 25 years of impact in engaging young people in health activities next year.
This celebration will reflect the organizational mission of building capacity of members where they are planning series of workshops to empower more than 300 students on different health skills subjects, giving back to the community where they will conduct community outreaches in remote areas on non-communicable diseases, communicable diseases, and sexual and reproductive health and rights.