The Rwanda Interfaith Council on Health (RICH) a local organisation operating since 2003 started its activities under the name: “Rwanda Network of Religious Organizations against HIV/AIDS (RCLS)”.

As a non-profit making organization, RICH had an aim of fighting HIV/AIDS by ensuring effective coordination of FBOs interventions as response to the pandemic in Rwanda.

Although the Network was initiated with one area of intervention, it has grown over time to intervene in other health issues such as family planning, maternal and infant health, malaria, tuberculosis, nutrition, hygiene, and non-communicable diseases.

In other words, RICH expanded its scope of work from HIV response to Health Promotion at large.

Thanks to recommendation of government of Rwanda which is the maiden esteemed partner, RICH got in touch with Global Fund which would later dedicate a grant to their cause.

The grant could not be disbursed if the project proposal was not prepared, reviewed and submitted by the Country Coordinating Mechanisms (CCM).

“CCM helps us to engage with other stakeholders and to build our members’ capacity which is very helpful to our organization,’’ Said Gatete Jean Marie Vianney, the Executive Secretary of RICH.

Gatete is confident that the constant reduction of HIV/AIDS infection rate that is being registered is a result of partnership between RICH and CCM among other activists who carry campaigns in the fight against the pandemic.

”Same applies with Malaria; to some extent infection rate was increasing until we intervened and organised campaigns through religious organisations which has paid off,” Gatete said.

“It is now clear that malaria incidence at this particular period of the year which was otherwise difficult is not worrisome like in previous years.”

Gatete’s understanding is that the collaboration between RICH and CCM changed the narrative.

RICH is grateful to CCM for the coordination it has been spearheading to bring together religious organisations in order to speak one voice against community challenges.

RICH brings 6 religious organisations namely; the Catholic Church of Rwanda, the Anglican Church of Rwanda, The Rwanda Muslim Community, the Protestant Council of Rwanda, Evangelical Alliance Council of Rwanda and the reformed Protestant churches of Rwanda.