The Access Project is a

non-profit organization A nonprofit organization (NPO), also known as a nonbusiness entity, nonprofit institution, not-for-profit organization, or simply a nonprofit, is a non-governmental (private) legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public, or so ...

dedicated to increasing the quality and accessibility of health care in

Rwanda Rwanda, officially the Republic of Rwanda, is a landlocked country in the Great Rift Valley of East Africa, where the African Great Lakes region and Southeast Africa converge. Located a few degrees south of the Equator, Rwanda is bordered by ...

. Founded in 2002 by public health expert Josh Ruxin and economist

Jeffrey Sachs Jeffrey David Sachs ( ; born November 5, 1954) is an American economist and public policy analyst who is a professor at Columbia University, where he was formerly director of The Earth Institute. He worked on the topics of sustainable develop ...

, 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 in the City of New York, commonly referred to as Columbia University, is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Churc ...

Earth Institute {{Infobox organization , name = The Earth Institute , image = Ei blue1.gif , map_size = , map_alt = , map_caption = , map2 = , type = , tax_id ...

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 infections that are common in low-income populations in developing regions of Africa, Asia, and the Americas. They are caused by a variety of pathogens, such as viruses, bacteri ...

(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: ...

Funders

Seed funded by

Rob Glaser Robert Denis Glaser (born January 16, 1962) is the founder of RealNetworks, which produces RealAudio, RealVideo, RealPlayer, and Helix, among other products and services. Before founding RealNetworks, he worked for Microsoft for ten years. Gla ...

, the CEO of Real Networks and a former

Microsoft Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational corporation and technology company, technology conglomerate headquartered in Redmond, Washington. Founded in 1975, the company became influential in the History of personal computers#The ear ...

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 corporation, multinational Pharmaceutical industry, pharmaceutical and biotechnology corporation headquartered at The Spiral (New York City), The Spiral in Manhattan, New York City. Founded in 184 ...

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

References

External links

* {{usurped,
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