Rwanda, United States Explore Expanded Healthcare Cooperation

Kigali/Washington, March 12, 2026 - Rwanda’s Minister of Health, Sabin Nsanzimana, has held a series of high-level discussions in the United States aimed at strengthening collaboration between American and Rwandan healthcare institutions. During a visit to Ohio, the minister met with Tomislav Mihaljevic, Chief Executive Officer of the Cleveland Clinic, to explore potential partnerships that could enhance healthcare delivery and medical expertise in Rwanda. The talks focused on how leading U.S. medical institutions could support Rwanda’s health system through knowledge exchange and institutional collaboration. In a separate meeting, Nsanzimana held discussions with Marcello Fantoni, Director of International Relations at Kent State University. The two sides examined opportunities for academic cooperation, particularly in research and the expansion of study opportunities for Rwandan students in the United States. The minister also met with Jeff Graham at the United States Department of State in Washington, DC, where discussions centered on global health security and bilateral cooperation. Key areas included the implementation of the Rwanda-U.S. Health Partnership Agreement. The agreement, valued at $228 million, is designed to support Rwanda’s healthcare sector, with a significant portion allocated to combating HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other communicable diseases, as well as strengthening disease surveillance and outbreak preparedness. Under the partnership, the United States is expected to contribute $158 million over the next five years, while Rwanda plans to increase its own health investment by up to $70 million to further improve national healthcare systems.