The Access Project is a

non-profit organization A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...

dedicated to increasing the quality and accessibility of health care in

Rwanda Rwanda (; rw, u Rwanda ), officially the Republic of Rwanda, is a landlocked country in the Great Rift Valley of Central Africa, where the African Great Lakes region and Southeast Africa converge. Located a few degrees south of the Equator ...

. Founded in 2002 by public health expert

Josh Ruxin Josh Ruxin (born June 15, 1970) is an American businessman, academic, and writer. As a businessman, he is co-founder and Executive Chairman of GoodLife Pharmacy, an East Africa–based pharmaceuticals chain in Kenya and Uganda, founder of the Rwanda ...

and economist Jeffrey Sachs, the organization provides technical and operational assistance to improve the management capacity of rural health centers, with a focus on maternal and child health.

Columbia University Columbia University (also known as Columbia, and officially as Columbia University in the City of New York) is a private research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Church in Manhatt ...

's Earth Institute initiative also builds new health centers in partnership with the Rwanda Ministry of Health (MOH) and led the country's first

neglected tropical diseases Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a diverse group of tropical disease, tropical infections that are common in low-income populations in Developing country, developing regions of Africa, Asia, and the Americas. They are caused by a variety ...

(NTD) control program.

Approach

The Access Project's approach is to apply private sector principles to the management of health centers across Rwanda. Through hands-on trainings and support, the organization seeks to make health centers efficient, accountable, and self-sustaining. Interventions focus on eight "management domains," from planning and coordination to drug procurement and financial management. In places where infrastructure does not exist or is beyond repair, Access works with the MOH to build new health centers. Together with the MOH, Access has built six health centers in Gashora, Gataraga, Kintobo, Juru, Ngeruka, and

Nyarugenge Nyarugenge is a sector (''umurenge'') located in Nyarugenge District, Kigali Province, Rwanda. Location It is located in the southwest part of the city of Kigali. The coordinates of Nyarugenge Sector are:1°58'02.0"S, 30°03'20.0"E (Latitude:-1 ...

Funders

Seed funded by Rob Glaser, the CEO of

Real Networks RealNetworks, Inc. is a provider of artificial intelligence and computer vision based products. RealNetworks was a pioneer in Internet streaming software and services. They are based in Seattle, Washington, United States. The company also p ...

and a former

Microsoft Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational technology corporation producing computer software, consumer electronics, personal computers, and related services headquartered at the Microsoft Redmond campus located in Redmond, Washing ...

executive, and his Glaser Progress Foundation, the Access Project has also received funding from the GE Foundation, the

MAC AIDS Fund M∙A∙C AIDS Fund (M·A·F) is a public charity established in 1994 to support people living with HIV/AIDS worldwide. It donates funds to communities and organizations that offer services to people with HIV/AIDS and help to prevent the disease ...

, and the Schmidt Family Foundation. In addition, Access has been funded by

Pfizer Pfizer Inc. ( ) is an American multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology corporation headquartered on 42nd Street in Manhattan, New York City. The company was established in 1849 in New York by two German entrepreneurs, Charles Pfizer ...

, the MAIA Foundation, the Legatum Foundation, and the Garth Brooks Teammates for Kids Foundation.“Funders”
, ''The Access Project'', Retrieved 2012-06-11

References

{{Reflist

External links

Official website

Glaser Progress Foundation

Rwanda Ministry of Health

Economic & Social Research Council

Center for Global Health and Economic Development
Health in Rwanda International development agencies