In Rwanda, the National NCDs Strategic Plan 2020-2025 highlights that NCDs such as cancer, CVDs (chronic vascular diseases), chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs), diabetes and injuries cause the highest loss of life. They account for approximately 59% of all deaths in the country.

The cost of NCDs in terms of lives and livelihoods lost is coupled with a staggering economic impact, both as a result of healthcare expenditure as well as the negative impact on human capital and productivity. NCDs reduce productivity and human capital, while increasing healthcare costs from serious illness, disability and death. NCDs are both a cause and a consequence of poverty, destroying the economies of thousands and thousands of families each year.

Patients living with hypertension and diabetes face psychological, emotional and social economic challenges. These are among the leading factors associated with individuals dropping out from NCDs management program.

Therefore, significant efforts in raising awareness of NCDs, early detection and improved quality of care are needed to curb the burden of NCDs in Rwanda. Thanks to the MOH and Rwanda Biomedical Center that has made NCDs a key priority as evidenced by its NCDs Strategic Plan of 2020-2025 Health Builders aims at empowering health facility staff and CHWs to better respond to hypertension and diabetes by providing community education to raise awareness, increase screening and strengthen hypertension and diabetes care.

This will be done by training and mentoring nurses and doctors on national protocols for diabetes and hypertension care. Health Builders wil l also conduct cascade training and mentorship to increase the knowledge and skills of CHWs on screening for diabetes and hypertension and follow up care.