Why the Government Needs the Interfaith Community The Rwandan experience Dr. Agnès Binagwaho Executive Secretary National AIDS Control Commission (CNLS) Rwanda The PEACE Coalition Satellite - Faith, Government and Business: Building Effective Multi-Sector Partnerships

Context National Policy MDGs and vision 2020 Flexibility 3 ones Build the future Results based

Mechanisms to engage and coordinate all sectors under new leadership Umbrellas MOU Private sector Youth Council Women’s Council Public Sector NGO Forum PLWHA Network FBO Network Journalist– Abasirwa Disabled

Government of Rwanda and Religious partners Same objectives Reduce the morbidity and mortality attributable to HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in Rwanda Improve the quality of life and increase life expectancy

Government, Private sector and Religious groups Healthy consumers Reduce poverty Increase productivity For the private sector, good returns If the private sector partners with Government and religious groups in investing in the health of Rwandans, they will have consumers for the long term

Examples: Areas of Religious contribution Tradition of trusted leadership Educators, Health providers, Spiritual guides, Confidentiality 98% of Rwandans belong to a church (less than one km from every home) 40% of health facilities owned by churches Infrastructure of churches is underused

Distribution of spiritual tools: why not medicine? Home visits for spiritual support: why not for health? Strong network: why not use it for comprehensive human support? Voluntary support: why not use this massive good will of community members by training them as first-line health care providers?

Who is close to the most affected populations? JLICA 40 studies Implementation gaps in key children’s services

Thank you The future belongs to all of us If we all act together