Rwanda NCD Alliance receives prestigious United Nations Interagency Task Force and WHO Special Programme on Primary Health Care Award for 2022

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Rwanda NCD Alliance receives prestigious United Nations Interagency Task Force and WHO Special Programme on Primary Health Care Award for 2022

21 September 2022 - The Rwanda NCD Alliance has been selected as a recipient of the 2022 UN Interagency Task Force and the WHO Special Programme on Primary Health Care Award. The award recognises the Rwanda NCD Alliance’s work in building multisectoral collaboration on NCDs in Rwanda, including supporting the establishment of the National NCD Multisectoral Coordination Committee, and by assisting the Government in implementing the National Strategy and Costed Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases (the National NCD Strategy).

The 2022 Awards were presented to the Rwanda NCD Alliance and other winners during the UN General Assembly High-Level Meeting in New York, at the UN Interagency Task Force for the Prevention and Control on Noncommunicable Diseases Friends of the Task Force side event on 21 September 2022. All recipients were recognized for achievements during 2021 on multisectoral action in the prevention and control of NCDs, mental health and the wider NCD-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“We are extremely delighted to have received an UN Interagency Task Force and WHO Special Programme on Primary Health Care Award for 2022. It is an incredible honour to be recognized globally for our active role in encouraging multisectoral collaboration on NCDs in Rwanda. We would like to thank the NCD community, stakeholders, partners, and those who ultimately helped us along the way, including the Ministry of Health of Rwanda (MoH) through the Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC), the NCD Alliance via their partnership with The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, and member organizations who contributed to our success. This is an honour, motivation, and challenge to do even more in the future.” - Prof Joseph Mucumbitsi, Chairperson, Rwanda NCD Alliance

Rwanda’s National NCD Strategy was launched in September 2021, and its development was supported by the Rwanda NCD Alliance who is acknowledged as a key implementing partner. This strategy is the result of multisectoral collaboration involving health experts and practitioners, government, and other stakeholders from diverse sectors, as well as community members including people living with NCDs. With this “all-of-society” approach, the strategy is expected to strengthen the existing decentralization and integration of NCD services as well as the Universal Health Coverage system, allowing NCD care to reach all individuals and communities across the country.

The strategy outlines how 358.15 billion RWF (more than 300 million euros) will be used during the period 2020-25 to guide action in tackling NCDs through four strategic objectives: NCD prevention, health system strengthening, surveillance and monitoring, and increased multisectoral coordination. This fourth pillar is rolled out through the National Multisectoral Coordination Committee.

"We congratulate the Rwanda NCD Alliance leadership and team for winning this prestigious award recognising outstanding contributions to multisectoral action. This alliance unifies civil society and involves people living with NCDs, liaising with its government in support of the National NCD Strategy and in promoting multisectoral coordination. This award highlights what strong civil society can do to accelerate action on NCDs."  - Cristina Parsons Perez, NCDA Capacity Development Director

The National NCD Strategy has the overarching goal to reduce premature deaths (between the ages of 30 and 70) from NCDs by 25 per cent by 2025. It also aims to demonstrate how a multisectoral approach, bringing together sports, food and nutrition, trade, environment, education, and other local government ministries, supports a healthier future.

We are grateful for the overwhelming support of NCD Alliance to our work through the NCDs and UHC Advocacy Institute Accelerator Programme and through the Our Views, Our Voices initiative, thanks to its partnership with The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust.