Between 1990 and 2015, Rwanda registered quite a number of milestones in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Infant mortality rate was reduced by 74%, while the rate of maternal mortality reduced by 78%, according to Finance Minister Dr. Uzziel Ndagijimana.

He was speaking at the opening the East and Central Africa Social Security Association (ECASSA 2018) conference that brought together social security professionals, experts, managers and policy makers from countries in Central and Eastern Africa and beyond under the theme “Towards Universal Health Coverage-Regional perspective”.

Within two days, the participants will discuss how to help Africans live better lives without anyone left behind.

“Rwanda has achieved a lot in terms of helping every citizen to live a healthy life. For instance, among the goals of MDGs 4 and 5 that have been achieved are infant mortality rate that was reduced by 74 percent while maternal mortality rate is at 78 percent from 1990 to 2015,” Minister Ndagijimana said.

ECASSA Secretary-General, Dr Frederick Ntimarubusa, reminded participants that Rwanda ranks first in sub-Saharan Africa for having a large number of people living with health insurance.

ECASSA’s new CEO, Richard Tusabe, and the Director-General of RSSB, said that Rwanda is committed to ensuring that all people have access to health insurance.

Tusabe said that they also thought about people in the informal sector, so that they could also have good health as other people, at a low cost.

ECASSA Conference brings together leaders of social security institutions from nine countries, including Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi, Zanzibar, South Sudan, Zambia and Zimbabwe, as well as other international organizations such as International Labor Organization (ILO), and International Social Security Association (ISSA).