The Ministry of Health, through the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC), has officially launched a new digital system known as e-IDSR (Electronic Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response), designed to enhance the country’s ability to monitor and report epidemic-prone diseases.
The system will facilitate the collection of real-time information on diseases affecting humans, livestock, and wild animals, with the aim of improving national preparedness and rapid response to potential outbreaks.
Dr. Shema Leandry, Head of the One Health Unit at RBC, explained that the platform reflects Rwanda’s commitment to an integrated health approach.
“We have upgraded our surveillance system to ensure that disease information does not only come from humans. Nearly 75% of epidemic diseases originate from animals,” he said.
He highlighted past global health threats such as COVID-19 and Marburg, which emerged from animals, stressing the importance of early detection across all health sectors.
“We need timely information not only from human health systems but also from livestock and wildlife to predict and prevent outbreaks more effectively. Environmental data will also be included to strengthen the One Health approach,” Dr. Shema added.
RBC says it will continue to expand the use of e-IDSR nationwide, including training more health professionals to ensure the smooth rollout of this new technology.
With this initiative, Rwanda aims to reinforce its disease surveillance mechanisms and safeguard public health against emerging epidemics.
