A project worth €4.2 million (approx. Rwf7.1bn) was launched in Rwanda on Friday, July 25, to help turn the country into a regional hub for public health innovation and strengthen health systems across sub-Saharan Africa.

Dubbed "Transforming Rwanda’s Biomedical Centre into Excellence Hub for National and Regional Public Health" (TRIBE-HUB), the project launched in partnership with the European Union will run until 2028.

It aims to support the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC) in its dual role as the country’s national public health institute and newly designated Regional Centre of Excellence for public health.

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It will focus on building RBC’s institutional capacity in public health research, workforce development, digital health, and disease surveillance and analytics, officials said.

"This another important initiative that will help us to enforce public capacity in many areas to ensure that we have great systems for disease surveillance, outbreak response, data analytics, digital health, population research and capacity building, and allow policy transformation," said Claude Mambo Muvunyi, the RBC Director General.

He added that the three-year initiative will strengthen the pillars that help to prepare for pandemic, climate change-related health issues as well as ensure strong universal health coverage.

As a Centre of Excellence, RBC will act as a regional hub for peer-to-peer technical assistance, training, and mentorship. It will also support other African countries in strengthening core public health functions such as disease surveillance, outbreak response, public health research, and workforce development.

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RBC will also work closely with Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) to harmonise public health policies and programmes through knowledge sharing and regional capacity-building initiatives.

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Dr Eric Remera, the Division Manager of Research, Innovation and Data Science at RBC, highlighted Rwanda’s progress in public health over the past two decades, noting improvements in life expectancy and greater control of major diseases such as HIV.

"However, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are now becoming more prevalent than infectious ones, and the region remains vulnerable to outbreaks like cholera and monkeypox, underscoring the need for stronger cross-border collaboration,” Remera said.

"What we’re doing in Rwanda should also support neighbouring countries. Data and technology, including artificial intelligence, will be key to how we respond to emerging health challenges.”

He explained that the TRIBE-HUB initiative aims to reinforce RBC’s role as a national public health institute, while also boosting digital health and data analytics, expanding training opportunities for public health professionals, and enhancing disease surveillance systems.

"TRIBE-HUB is here to strengthen Rwanda’s health systems and share its strengths with the region, combining research, innovation, and policy into one coordinated effort,” he said.

Didas Kayihura Muganga, the Acting Vice Chancellor at the University of Rwanda (UR), described the TRIBE-HUB initiative as a strategic action that reinforces RBC as a leader in public health innovation and capacity building across the region.

He commended RBC’s consistent demonstration of excellence and distinction in managing health challenges, including pandemics, and leading impactful research efforts.

"The initiative will help improve public health training at UR, especially in the College of Medicine and Health Sciences, by filling current skills gaps. TRIBE-HUB will also create more chances for students and staff to work with others in the region and around the world, allowing them to take part in shaping global health solutions,” he said.

RBC was granted the national public health institute (NPHI) status through a Presidential Order in May 2022, and earlier this year, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) officially selected RBC as a Regional Centre of Excellence.

This recognition highlights Rwanda’s leadership, technical expertise, and long-term commitment to advancing public health systems on the continent, the officials said.