2016 Articles

Transitioning to Country Ownership of HIV Programs in Rwanda

Binagwaho, Agnes; Kankindi, Ida; Kayirangwa, Eugenie; Nyemazi, Jean Pierre; Morales, Fernando; Nsanzimana, Sabin; Kadende-Kaiser, Rose; Scott, Kirstin Woody; Mugisha, Veronicah; Sahabo, Ruben; Baribwira, Cyprien; Isanhart, Leia; Asiimwe, Anita; El-Sadr, Wafaa M.; Raghunathan, Pratima L.

Funding from the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) program in 2004 significantly bolstered Rwanda’s ability to develop a national HIV program with implementing partners.
In 2009, after 5 years of expanding HIV services to achieve universal access to antiretroviral treatment, Rwanda and PEPFAR embarked on a sustainability and country ownership phase of the AIDS response.
Commitment to the following seven principles helped to create a foundation for successful HIV program management transition from implementing nongovernmental partners to management by Rwanda: a political context of integration and decentralization, ownership through national coordination, participation and partnership, equity, efficiency, accountability, and integration of HIV care to strengthen the entire health system.