When Women Lead, Health Systems Thrive
Health Builders empowers women across Rwanda’s health system to lead and strengthen care for families and communities.
Health workers from Mwulire Health Center
Throughout March, as we celebrate Women’s Month, we are reminded that when women are supported to lead, entire health systems become stronger, more resilient, and more responsive to community needs.
Across Rwanda, women are at the heart of healthcare delivery, from community health workers supporting families in villages to nurses, midwives, and health facility staff providing essential, life-saving services. Their leadership is not only vital but also transformative.
“Before the training, I struggled to manage complications like postpartum hemorrhage and eclampsia. Now I feel more confident identifying problems early and supporting mothers when they need it most.”
[ Pictured: Julienne Nirere explaining how a neonatal radiant warmer machine works ]
For Julienne Nirere, a midwife at Tumba Health Center in Rulindo District, this transformation is personal. Through training and mentorship supported by Health Builders, she has strengthened her ability to care for mothers and newborns in her community.
Before receiving training, identifying complications such as twin pregnancies or other abnormalities was often challenging and stressful. Today, Julienne confidently applies skills gained through Helping Mothers Survive and Helping Babies Survive (HMS-HBS) and obstetric ultrasound training. She can stabilize mothers experiencing postpartum hemorrhage, manage complications like eclampsia, and respond more effectively in critical moments.
Juliene’s impact extends beyond her own practice, as she shares her knowledge with colleagues, building stronger capacity across the entire health center. Her story reflects a broader reality: investing in women's health workers multiplies impact.
Rwanda itself has made remarkable progress in advancing gender equality, with women representing 63.75% of members of parliament, one of the highest proportions in the world. Building on this national commitment, Health Builders strengthens women’s capacity and leadership across the health sector through targeted training, mentorship, and professional development.
This support translates directly into improved quality of care. Healthcare providers gain practical skills in maternal and newborn care, obstetric ultrasound, and the prevention and management of cardiovascular diseases, skills that save lives and improve outcomes for families.
The impact of women’s leadership is equally powerful at the community level. In Nyabihu District, more than 80% of the community health workers trained through Health Builders programs are women. These women play a critical role in connecting families to care, promoting healthy behaviors, and ensuring that services reach even the most remote communities.
Women are also strengthening health systems beyond clinical care.
At Buyoga Health Center in Rulindo District, Beatha Mushimiyimana, a former accountant, now serving as a cashier, has enhanced her skills in financial planning and budgeting through Health Builders’ training and mentorship.
[ Pictured: Beatha Mushimiyimana during her daily work as a cashier at Buyoga Health Center ]
Before the training, developing action plans and managing budgets were challenging. Today, Beatha confidently contributes to financial decision-making at the health center, helping ensure that resources are well managed and that essential services continue to reach the community.
“I am grateful to Health Builders for their invaluable support in training and for the ongoing on-site mentorship that has made a real difference in my work,” she shares.
Stories like Julianne’s and Beatha’s remind us that strengthening health systems means strengthening the women who sustain them. From delivering life-saving care to managing the systems that support it, women across Rwanda are driving meaningful, lasting change.
While International Women’s Day has passed, the importance of investing in women’s leadership remains urgent and ongoing.
Support Women Strengthening Health Systems
Behind every stronger health system are women like Julienne and Beatha, dedicated professionals working every day to improve the quality of care in their communities.
Through training, mentorship, and sustained support, Health Builders is helping women across Rwanda build the skills and confidence needed to deliver quality healthcare and strengthen the systems that make it possible.
You can be part of this impact. By supporting Health Builders, you can contribute to:
Training healthcare providers in life-saving skills
Empowering community health workers
Strengthening health systems that serve families across Rwanda.
Join us in continuing the spirit of International Women's Month by investing in the women who are building stronger, healthier communities every day.
