Rwanda
Before Mildmay began work in Rwanda, specialist care for children living with HIV was very limited.
In 2009, Mildmay opened the country’s first specialist HIV paediatric centre at Kibagabaga Hospital in Kigali. The centre was established through a partnership between Mildmay and IntraHealth International, with funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). USAID also provided technical support to introduce HIV and AIDS services across four districts: Gasabo, Rulindo, Nyagatare and Gicumbi.
Staff at Kibagabaga trained community health workers and home‑based care providers, ran nutrition demonstration classes, and mobilised and supported carers to set up income‑generating activities. Weekly children’s clubs for around 100 children were held at the centre. At the end of the project, these activities were transitioned to the community to continue and have since helped sustain local support networks.
National Palliative Care Policy
In 2010, Mildmay International worked with the Rwandan Ministry of Health to develop and implement the country’s first national palliative care policy. In March 2011, we celebrated a major milestone with the policy’s launch—a direct result of this collaborative work. The policy has continued to positively impact people living with HIV and others with serious illnesses across Rwanda.