Umuganda for improved health professions education in Rwanda: Past, present and future in the training of health professionals at the University of Rwanda

Abstract

Background: Investing in health professions education is widely known to improve the overall health outcomes of a community, with collaboration as a strategy. Umuganda is a Rwandan concept of  community collaboration.

Objective: This article describes several recent milestones in collaborative development of health  professional education at the College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, towards more socially accountable education. Methodology: Literature review and personal experiences from the authors were used to describe recent milestones in the article.

Results: In 2012 the 7-year Human Resources for Health (HRH) program was launched, in 2013 the new University of Rwanda created the College of Medicine and Health Sciences, in 2014 the undergraduate medical curriculum was revised,and incorporated interprofessionality and integrated social and  community medicine training. Furthermore, innovative teaching methods were introduced to increase numbers of students.. In 2015 several international conferences were organised by the College of Medicine and Health Sciences.

Conclusion: Innovation and collaboration go hand in hand in the development of health professions  education. Recent milestones at the College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda,  show the use and progress of ‘umuganda’ in the educational side of health care delivery.

Key words: Medical education, health professions education, Human Resources for Health, curriculum  review, milestones, Rwanda