US and Rwanda Sign $228 Million Health Partnership to Boost Disease Response

The United States and Rwanda have signed a $228 million health sector agreement under the “America First Global Health Strategy” to strengthen Rwanda’s health system, combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases, and improve disease surveillance. The US will provide $158 million, with Rwanda contributing $70 million to gradually assume greater financial responsibility. The deal also supports drone delivery of medical supplies through Zipline and coincides with renewed US-backed efforts to stabilize the region.

The United States and Rwanda have formalized a $228 million health sector agreement, marking the second major pact under the Trump administration’s “America First Global Health Strategy,” which aims to enhance the self-reliance of partner countries in managing their own health systems. The deal, signed in Washington by Rwandan Foreign Minister Oliver Nduhungirehe and US officials, outlines a comprehensive vision to save lives, strengthen Rwanda’s health infrastructure, and bolster disease prevention and outbreak response, while also contributing to global health security.

Under the agreement, the US will provide up to $158 million to support efforts against HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other infectious diseases, as well as to enhance disease surveillance and rapid response capabilities. In parallel, the Rwandan government has committed to increasing its domestic health investment by $70 million, gradually taking on a larger share of funding responsibilities as US support decreases over time. This co-financing approach reflects the strategy’s goal of promoting sustainable, locally managed health systems that are less reliant on external aid.

The partnership also builds on Rwanda’s innovative use of drone technology through the startup Zipline, which delivers life-saving medical supplies, including blood and vaccines, to remote areas. Officials emphasized that the integration of technology into healthcare delivery is central to Rwanda’s vision of a self-reliant, adaptive, and technologically enabled health system.

The announcement of the health agreement coincided with renewed diplomatic efforts in the region, as Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame and Democratic Republic of the Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi reaffirmed their commitment to a US-brokered deal aimed at ending conflict in eastern Congo. This timing underscores the broader context of the US-Rwanda partnership, which not only focuses on health improvements but also on regional stability and development. Rwandan officials hailed the agreement as a significant step toward strengthening public health infrastructure, advancing technology in healthcare, and building long-term resilience within the nation’s health sector.