Transforming Rheumatic Care: Rwanda's Innovative Approach to Healing
Tuesday, October 7, 2025 – 19:00 pm
In the heart of Rwanda, a quiet revolution in healthcare is unfolding. Through a collaboration between Pfizer's Accord for a Healthier World and Rwanda's Ministry of Health, a comprehensive program is helping to reshape how rheumatic diseases are diagnosed and treated.
Janvier Nshimiyimana's story epitomizes the opportunity for this initiative. At just 24, he faced a debilitating rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis that threatened to derail his dreams. Once unable to pursue his passion in aviation due to his condition, Nshimiyimana now represents hope for thousands suffering from rheumatic diseases in Rwanda.
The challenge was substantial. In 2022, Rwanda had only one Rheumatologist, Dr Janvier Murayire, serving a population of over 14 million. With support and collaboration from Accord, Dr Janvier with the Ministry of Health selected at least one internist from each referral and provincial hospital for a one-month intensive training program for 11 internal medicine physicians, enabling these doctors afterwards to establish a functional rheumatology-oriented unit in their respective hospitals nationwide.
As of 2025, more than 1,800 patients have received specialized rheumatological care, many of them for the first time in their lives.
Accord for a Healthier World is enabling efforts like this one in order to help strengthen health system capacity and help to enhance to patient care.
“The Accord’s primary focus is on increasing access to medicines and vaccines, but without addressing challenges limiting or preventing access like this one, patients may struggle to get a proper diagnosis and or find ongoing care with sustained access to the medicines,” said , Dr. Osahon Ehige Omorodion, Pfizer's Medical Director for Accord.
Read the full inspiring story of Rwanda's rheumatic care transformation in the Rwanda Dispatch: Healing the Gap: Rwanda Expands Access to Rheumatic Care Amid Specialist Shortage - Rwanda Dispatch News Agency
Janvier Nshimiyimana, a rheumatic disease patient, shares his story about the challenges of accessing treatment and living with the condition.