Rwanda
Duration
2022-2026
Lead institutions
Institute of Tropical Medicine (ITM)
Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC)
University of Rwanda/Centre Hospitalier Universitair de Kigali (UR-CHUK)
Academic partners
Leen Rigouts (ITM)
Claude Semuto (RBC)
Leopold Bitunguhari (UR-CHUK)
Project status
Ongoing
General objective
The overarching long-term goal of this programme is to achieve sustainable control, reduce the burden, or eliminate infectious diseases—such as tuberculosis, malaria, neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), and zoonoses—by ensuring equitable access to high-quality, affordable diagnostic services.
Summary
The programme aims to strengthen Rwanda’s capacity for infectious disease control through improved diagnostics, surveillance, research, and policy implementation. It focuses on enhancing laboratory infrastructure, digitalising diagnostic data, and expanding regional collaborations to improve early detection and resistance monitoring for TB, malaria, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Strengthening research and training will help Rwanda achieve WHO recognition as a Supra-National Reference Laboratory (SRL).
Additionally, a One Health approach integrates efforts against TB, malaria, NTDs, and zoonoses by linking human, animal, and environmental health strategies. The programme also supports antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) through national guidelines, healthcare training, and participation in WHO’s AMR surveillance. It also contributes to vaccine development by assessing Rwanda’s potential for local production and advancing TB vaccine research.
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