Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Rwanda
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The Millennium Villages Project helps impoverished rural communities meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), 2008
The Millennium Villages Project (MVP) in Rwanda began operations nearly 3 years ago, it has made tremendous progress, helping the community to transform Mayange from one of the poorest places in Rwanda to a model of development. This transformation has been generated from the grassroots community itself with the impetus of MVP.
The Millennium Villages Project helps impoverished rural communities meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by applying proven interventions in critical areas including health, agriculture, education and business development. This report presents some of the key activities carried out during 2008.
HEALTH
Mayange Health Center continues to function at a high level of activity and quality. The entire population is covered by health insurance and therefore has access to health care. Health education in the community has resulted in more people seeking preventive care. |
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MVP has also worked towards decentralizing health care down to the community level. Three health posts are operational, while 70 community health workers (CHWs), volunteers who are elected by the community to be responsible for health outreach programs have been trained and equipped with mobile phones and bicycles.
A toll-free emergency mobile phone number has been provided by MTN-Rwandacell. Patients in need of emergency health services or transfer can call this number free of charge and the ambulance will be dispatched if needed. At present there are enough mobile phones available throughout the village to facilitate the use of this number.
As a result of MVP intervention, Mayange Health Center has the best—and possibly the only—patient files of all of the health centers countrywide. MVP has recently embarked on helping the health center develop an electronic medical records system, which will also help in developing a health surveillance system.
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
MVP helps to improve economic opportunities in the community through training, awareness creation, and support to community-based initiatives. This intervention is largely done through cooperatives formed by community members to undertake various income-generating activities.
MVP has created links between the community and microfinance institutions, to educate community members about savings and credit. Examples of current businesses include basket weaving, knitting of sweaters and scarves, tree nurseries for pomegranates and other fruit trees, tourism services, communication services (internet and public phones), poultry and bee keeping. |
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AGRICULTURE AND ENVIRONMENT
Use of improved farming techniques, seed and fertilizer increased yields significantly despite erratic rainfall patterns. Farmers have also diversified to high value crops such as fruit trees and chick peas |
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| To cope with erratic rainfall, MVP introduced rainfall harvesting techniques and intensive gardening of vegetables. |
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Cassava is well adapted to the growing conditions, MVP has supported cassava production on a large scale and is helping the community to construct a processing unit.
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| MVP supports with veterinary services including artificial insemination |
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EDUCATION
MVP works to ensure universal primary education by breaking all community barriers that hinder the enrollment of school-age children. It also works to improve the learning environment for better performance and to reduce the drop out rate. It has so far constructed 5 classrooms and rehabilitated 77, connected all 5 primary schools and 1 secondary school to a water point and installed water tanks. |
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| Trees planted at one of the primary schools by UNDP staff during the international poverty day. |
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Rwanda
