Developing a Health Partnership: A Region Östergötland and Rwanda Health Care Collaboration

Introduction: A collaborative partnership between Region Östergötland (Sweden) and the Rwanda healthcare system was established to facilitate mutual learning and healthcare capacity building. The partnership aims to build capacity in the healthcare system with the goals of enhancing patient safety, knowledge exchange, and professional development within both healthcare systems. Initiated in 2022, the collaboration has involved two visits by the Swedish team to Rwanda and a reciprocal visit by Rwandan healthcare leaders to Sweden, promoting cross cultural understanding and identifying common challenges in healthcare delivery. Methods: The partnership utilized a participatory approach, with teams engaging in clinical observations, joint workshops, and discussions on healthcare practices. Key activities included structured visits to healthcare facilities in both countries, focusing on areas such as primary healthcare, infection control, and neonatal health. Objectives are outlined for knowledge exchange and capacity building, ensuring a formalized and sustainable approach to the collaboration. Results: The visits enabled both teams to gain insights into each healthcare system’s unique strengths and limitations. Swedish healthcare professionals observed practices that adapted to limited resources, enhancing their skills in critical situations. Rwandan counterparts learned about patient safety protocols and quality improvement methodologies. Additionally, participants identified specific areas for further training, such as delivery of care, pediatric neurosurgery, and training of healthcare personnel working at health posts and primary healthcare centers. Conclusion: The partnership between Region Östergötland and Rwanda’s healthcare system highlights the value of international collaborations in healthcare improvement. By facilitating bidirectional knowledge exchange, the partnership not only bolstered clinical expertise but also fostered a deeper understanding of cultural and systemic healthcare differences. Future efforts will aim to build on these outcomes, focusing on long-term capacity building and expanding the scope of joint training programs.