Kigali -23 April 2019- BAHO NEZA campaign was launched by the Government of Rwanda brings together the Ministries of Gender and Family Promotion through the National Early Childhood Development Program, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Defense together with different partners including Imbuto Foundation, on Tuesday launched an Integrated Health Campaign that aims to consolidate the country’s gains in the health and social welfare sector while also accelerating the pace to ensure healthy and happy families. The event was officiated by Honorable Minister of Health Dr. Diane Gashumba.

The three-year Integrated Health Campaign kick started in Karama sector, Nyagatare District. It will focus on raising awareness countrywide on available information and services related to Family Planning, Early Childhood Development, Antenatal Care and Postnatal Care, the importance of Parents-Adolescents Communication and Teenage Pregnancy prevention. The campaign will address the remaining challenges affecting Rwandan families including issues related to gender stereotypes, malnutrition and stunting, women highly involved in subsistence farming, women’s underemployment and unpaid care work, human trafficking, child abuse, teenage pregnancies and GBV among others.  

The campaign will be carried out in various phases, each year featuring two phases, while each phase will last six months. The phases include social welfare week, maternal and child health week, RDF citizen outreach activities.

Prior to the campaign launch, the Minister of Health inaugurated 23 new health posts constructed in Nyagatare District, as part of Rwanda's target to have a health post at cell level, a move which is also part of the country's efforts to achieve universal health coverage.

Joining the government in this three-year drive are a variety of partners including Imbuto Foundation, USAID, One UN, CRS, Partners in health, NECDP. Community Health Workers, Youth Volunteers, Model Family, Local Authority and Religious Leaders will also play a crucial role in the campaign to ensure a wide reach and meaningful impact. 

Rwanda is commended to be among the few countries that met Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5, by reducing the maternal mortality from 1071 in 2000 to 210 per 100,000 Live births in 2015. Family planning has significantly contributed to the reduction of the mortality rate, and at the same time, the modern contraceptive prevalence rate (mCPR) has increased from 4 to 48%, between 2000 and 2015. Rwanda has also made huge efforts and achievements registered in family promotion, gender equality and women empowerment.