IntraHealth Presents The Mobile District Physicians Program At The Global Health Council Conference
Dr. Gerard Ngendahimana will share IntraHealth’s experience in extending HIV/AIDS service through mobile district physicians during a roundtable presentation at the 35th International Conference on Global Health on May 29, in Washington, DC. Ngendahimana is the deputy director of HIV/AIDS and technical services for IntraHealth Rwanda, and has more than 19 years of experience in Rwanda-based HIV/AIDS service delivery, reproductive health services and health policy development.
Accessing antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Rwanda’s rural areas can be challenging. Rural health centers in Rwanda often lack laboratory facilities and suffer from a critical shortage of physicians; the district physicians available are on temporary contracts with high turnover. Through funding from USAID, IntraHealth is working with Rwanda’s Ministry of Health to support ART services at three hospitals and 11 rural health centers, throughout five districts.
Through IntraHealth’s Mobile District Physician approach, a district hospital physician travels weekly to each rural health center to:
- See newly referred clients being evaluated to start ART
- Provide initial follow-up of clients
- Review clients with complications
- Provide ongoing supportive supervision to health facility nurses
- See other non-HIV+ patients in need of special medical care.
Ngendahimana will discuss the successes and challenges of this program, as well as ideas for expanding the program throughout rural Rwanda.
Ngendahimana will also be one of the presenters during an auxiliary event hosted by IntraHealth during the conference. “Progressive Vision, Positive Change: Building Capacity for a Healthier Rwanda” will highlight the Rwandan government’s vision for universal health care. The event , to be held on May 28, will explore ongoing efforts to strengthen the country’s health workforce, reposition family planning, address gender-related barriers to health, decentralize services and build community partnerships. More information on IntraHealth’s work in Rwanda is available here.