New Delhi, India
A high-level delegation from Rwanda comprising government officials, academic leaders, and UNFPA Rwanda representatives has successfully concluded a ten-day learning visit to India focused on strengthening midwifery education and maternal health systems. The visit, facilitated by UNFPA India in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, was organised under the AIM for Change! Initiative - a two-year project supported by the Government of India through the United Nations Office for South–South Triangular Cooperation.
The initiative supports Rwanda’s efforts to strengthen midwifery capacities and accelerate progress in reducing maternal mortality. The successful learning exchange underscores India’s growing leadership in South–South Cooperation and its commitment to partnering with countries to advance maternal health, midwifery education, and digital innovation that can strengthen health systems.
During the visit, the Rwandan delegation interacted with national and state institutions including Udaipur’s National Midwifery Training Institute (NMTI), a Labour Room Quality Improvement Initiative (LaQshya certified facility), Bhopal’s National Health Mission (NHM) Office, Kailashnath Katju Hospital, and Sanchi’s Primary Health Center and Health and Wellness Center; to learn about the policies, systems, and innovations that have driven one of the world’s most rapid declines in maternal mortality.Specifically, India’s Maternal Mortality Ratio dropped from 103 per 100,000 live births in 2020 to 80 in 2023 — an 86 percent reduction since 1990. This progress reflects India’s commitment to stronger health governance, sustained investments, and data-driven accountability.
The delegation noted that India’s progress is rooted in a highly structured health system where national guidelines, programme entitlements, budget allocations, and digital platforms function within a unified governance architecture.
“This exchange reflects the best of South–South collaboration—practical learning, pooling of expertise, and a shared commitment to improving the lives of women and newborns. India’s experience shows that when strong governance, skilled midwives, and digital innovation come together, maternal health systems can transform rapidly. Rwanda is making important strides in this direction, and we are proud to support this journey. Such partnerships demonstrate that sustainable solutions are strengthened when countries learn from one another as equal partners working toward the same goal: ensuring that every woman has access to respectful, high-quality care.” — Andrea Wojnar, UNFPA India Representative and Country Director, Bhutan
“India’s well-trained and community-based health workforce, including Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs), Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs), Community Health Officers (CHOs) play a key role in ensuring consistent follow-up for every pregnant woman through clearly defined responsibilities and continuous training. This model aligns closely with Rwanda’s own “4x4 Strategy,” which aims to significantly expand and professionalize its health workforce in the coming years ahead.” - Dr. Francois Regis Cyiza, Director of Health Facilities Programs Unit, Maternal Child and Community Health Division, Rwanda Biomedical Centre/ Ministry of Health, Government of Rwanda
Under the AIM for Change! initiative, we look forward to further strengthening our collaboration with the Government of India and UNFPA India as we continue to advance South–South cooperation. India’s experience in midwifery education, digital health, and governance provides important guidance for Rwanda’s ongoing efforts to reinforce its maternal health system. UNFPA Rwanda remains dedicated to support the efforts of the Government of Rwanda in translating these lessons into sustainable, system-wide improvements that ensure every woman and newborn receives high-quality, respectful care - Dr. Olugbemiga Adelakin, UNFPA Rwanda Country Representative
Digital health emerged as one of the most significant learning for the Rwandan delegation. India’s advanced digital platforms such as the Reproductive Child Health (RCH) Portal, Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA) dashboards, Maternal, Perinatal, Child Death Surveillance and Response (MPCDSR) system, and digital labour room tools demonstrated how technology can strengthen maternal health outcomes when integrated with well defined workflows, and responsibilities across all levels of health systems. The Rwandan team also explored India’s use of Virtual Reality (VR) simulation for midwifery training, offering low-cost competency development in critical areas like postpartum haemorrhage.
Insights from the visit will inform Rwanda’s next phase of maternal health reforms focused on three areas:
- Strengthening digital health foundations with context-appropriate tools for maternal death reviews, labour room documentation, and RMNCH data flows. A simplified, nationally coordinated tracking system, digital or hybrid, will be prioritized.
- Enhancing Community Health Worker roles with clearer scopes, simplified clinical tools, and structured follow-ups, supported by newly trained nurses under the health sector reform.
- Rwanda expressed interest in becoming a pilot country for digital and clinical innovations, including VR training, digital labour room tools, and MPCDSR upgrades. Rwanda’s unified health system offers an ideal setting for scalable, context-driven solutions.
Both countries are committed to deepening this partnership and advancing maternal health outcomes.
For more information, please contact:
Pinky Pradhan, Communications & Media Specialist | ppradhan@unfpa.org | +91 9810788435
About UNFPA
UNFPA is the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency. UNFPA's mission is to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled. UNFPA calls for the realization of reproductive rights for all and supports access to a wide range of sexual and reproductive health services, including voluntary family planning, quality maternal health care and comprehensive sexuality education. Visit us at https://india.unfpa.org/en
