Africa
Interview: Dr. Agnes Binagwaho, Rwandan Minister of Health
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28 March 2013
In a previous version of the article, we identified Dr. Agnes Binagwaho as the former Minister of Health of Rwanda. She is actually the current Rwandan Minister of Health; she was formerly the Permanent Secretary of Health. Dr. Binagwaho's name was also misspelled. We regret the errors.
Nearly 19 years ago, Rwanda was torn apart by a brutal genocide that killed more than one million people. Today, Rwanda is a peaceful country full of promise and hope. Along with efforts to rebuild the economic ruins of this once-failed state, government and health officials are tenaciously confronting nationwide health issues by implementing revolutionary strategies to provide sustainable health care to their citizens.
The progress is astounding. Life expectancy at birth was at only 25 years at the end of 1994, but had recovered to 50 in 2008. Meanwhile, infant mortality decreased from 129 to 62 deaths per 1,000 live births per year, and under-five mortality decreased from 219 to 103 between 1994 and 2007.
The Honorable Dr. Agnes Binagwaho, Minister of Health in Rwanda, has been a prominent presence in these amazing developments. Prior to this role, she was the Permanent Secretary of Health in the Ministry of Health, the Executive Secretary of the National AIDS Control Commission, a member of the Expert Panel of the Country Coordinating Mechanism in Rwanda for the Global Fund, and a pediatrician by training.
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