Future Directions

Within its mission, UJAMAA’s goal is to teach and train Rwandan health professionals and thereby create an independent sustainable system in the following areas:
Maternal/Child Care:
  • Develop protocols for patient care based on current assessments of health care and input from HDI
  • Improve the quality of patient care through
    • Teaching
    • Mentoring
    • Training in equipment use
  • Pursue the development of a mobile clinic
  • Pursue the development of rural clinics/hospitals
Healing Hearts Northwest
  • Establish a medical surgical team from Spokane, Washington which will provide continuity of care with 3 other teams operating in Rwanda. This would establish a quarterly surgical and training system. Currently, a team from Boston Brigham Women’s and Children’s Hospital and Australia, are providing surgical teams. Additionally, an Indian team may be providing the fourth team.
  • Establish a program that teaches and trains medical personnel in the hospital to manage acute patient care, improving their skills to manage complex patients.
  • Establish a program to evaluate the prevalence of rheumatic heart disease and train local medical personnel to treat when appropriate.
  • Develop a program for early detection and treatment of streptococcal infections for the primary prevention of rheumatic fever.
Community Health
Assist communities who suffer from a lack of healthcare options, public health education, basic housing, sanitation and clean water, and economic stability by offering:
  • Technical advice for water and sanitation program
  • Workshops for effective health promotion at the district and local levels
  • Trainings for ancillary health personnel (mental health, dental, and physical therapy)
  • Research and evaluation of UJAMAA’s Health Promotion programs
  • Development of visual aids and health education materials
*Health Development Initiative (HDI) is a Rwandan NGO founded in 2005, "whose mission and objective is to encourage and invite international/national volunteers to contribute to community development, education development, as well as health and environmental activities of the Rwandese people. Our program promotes the opportunity for individuals to build international links and mutual friendship through a global partnership".