For Mukamana (not her actual title), a 62-year-old lady residing with each HIV and diabetes, frequent hospital visits as soon as consumed her time, power and restricted revenue.
Earlier than November 2025, she needed to make separate journeys to gather antiretroviral medicine (ARVs) and diabetes medicine. In the present day, she receives each companies throughout a single appointment at her well being centre in Nyarugenge District below an built-in care mannequin.
“I now come as soon as, meet one nurse and get every part. It saves my time and transport cash,” she mentioned.
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Mukamana says the brand new method has improved her adherence to remedy.
“Earlier than, I may skip visits once I had no transport cash. Generally I’d delay remedy. Now it’s simpler to observe every part correctly,” she mentioned, urging authorities to develop the programme nationwide.
Well being officers say integrating HIV and non-communicable illness (NCD) companies is bettering effectivity and lowering the burden of repeated hospital visits for sufferers managing a number of continual situations.
The initiative, applied by the Rwanda Non-Communicable Illnesses Alliance (Rwanda NCDA) in collaboration with the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC), permits sufferers with HIV and situations comparable to diabetes and hypertension to obtain care throughout a single appointment.
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Naasson Nduwamungu, Coordinator of HIV and NCD Service Integration at Rwanda NCDA, mentioned the programme was launched after well being amenities recognized inefficiencies in appointment scheduling.
“Folks residing with HIV and NCDs got totally different appointment dates, resulting in pointless repeat visits, but these companies could possibly be delivered in a single appointment,” he mentioned.
He famous that the principle problem was not willingness amongst well being staff, however variations in coaching.
“Though they’re all nurses, these dealing with HIV care and people managing NCDs have been skilled individually,” he mentioned.
To handle this, joint coaching programmes have been launched.
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“We skilled HIV healthcare staff on NCD care, and NCD healthcare staff on HIV care,” he mentioned.
Because of this, nurses can now present built-in companies, though financing stays a problem.
“An HIV nurse can now additionally handle chosen NCD companies. The remaining problem is financing sure companies in order that RSSB can absolutely cowl them,” Nduwamungu mentioned.
The programme at the moment operates in 10 well being centres and two hospitals in Nyarugenge District, providing screening and remedy for diabetes and hypertension, in addition to screening and counselling for breast and cervical cancers.
RBC says the mannequin is being scaled up nationwide. Jean Claude Kwizera, Senior Officer for HIV and AIDS Grownup Care and Remedy at RBC, mentioned at the least 120 well being amenities have been skilled since September.
A key function of the programme is co-scheduling, which aligns appointments for various companies.
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“For instance, some sufferers could come month-to-month, whereas others come each three or six months. With co-scheduling, we align appointments to allow them to be served collectively,” he mentioned.
The rollout comes as NCD circumstances proceed to rise. Diabetes circumstances elevated from 11,891 in 2019 to 21,164 in 2025, whereas hypertension circumstances rose from 58,194 to 134,823 throughout the identical interval. Most cancers circumstances additionally grew from 2,745 in 2017 to six,896 in 2025.
Based on Dr Gad Nshimiyimana, Appearing Director of the Lung, Renal, Diabetes and Different Metabolic Illnesses Unit at RBC, expanded screening and consciousness campaigns are serving to establish extra sufferers earlier.
“Elevated consciousness and screening, supported by group well being staff, are figuring out extra individuals earlier,” he mentioned.
