Rwanda’s gains from linking science and policy

Jan 02, 2019; Nature. https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-018-07863-3

Abstract

Rwanda is now one of the growing number of developing countries that are encouraging scientists to help shape evidence-based government policy (see also Nature 560, 671–673; 2018). Such efforts (see, for example, go.nature.com/2eae4kpn) have boosted health gains in the past couple of decades. World Bank data show that life expectancy in Rwanda rose from 29 to 68 years between 1994 and 2015, and mortality during childbirth fell by 70% over the same period.

The Rwanda Biomedical Center in Kigali City, for instance, works in partnership with researchers across the world in the Demand-Driven Evaluations for Decisions programme to analyse service statistics from Health Management Information Systems and to answer policymakers’ research questions. Data collected from different districts can be used to assess the impact of expanding community-based malaria treatment during times of resurgence, for example. Health professionals can then use the outcomes of policy interventions that are based on such evidence to improve local clinical practice.

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