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About the Project: Improving Healthcare Capacity In Africa: Focus On Rwanda
Building on the success of World Telehealth Initiative's (WTI) groundbreaking telehealth programs in remote regions of Nigeria, we have turned our focus to Rwanda. Known for having Africa's most advanced health system, Rwanda presents both an opportunity and a challenge: to further enhance its ecosystem to improve access to care and address health disparities among at-risk populations.
To date, we have achieved several key milestones:
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Engaged stakeholders and identified pivotal public health initiatives and collaboration sites.
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Overcame environmental and bureaucratic barriers to ensure seamless device delivery.
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Successfully launched mobile ultrasound technology for screening and intervention.
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Implemented a "train-the-trainer" approach to empower local healthcare providers.
Despite challenges such as navigating a privacy-focused health system requiring institutional review board (IRB) approval at every stage, and the recent Marburg virus outbreak, our progress lays the foundation for transformative outcomes in 2025.
By the Numbers: Impact at a Glance
Our work in Rwanda is set to address a wide range of healthcare needs, with an immediate focus on advancing oncology care for female patients. Here's what we aim to achieve:
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Screen 50,000 women for cervical and breast cancer who would not have otherwise received care.
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Reduce economic burdens and improve follow-up rates for 5,000 women requiring diagnostic imaging through ultrasound, identified by clinical breast exams (CBE).
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Detect and address at least 500 cancer cases, saving lives through early intervention.
Rwanda Outcomes
With the support of key partners, we’ve identified impactful public health programs and sites in Rwanda that stand to benefit significantly from telehealth advancements. These include population health projects, surgical innovation centers, regional teaching hospitals, and cancer care programs specifically targeting women’s health.
Why Breast Cancer in Sub-Saharan Africa
Breast cancer is a leading cause of death among women in sub-Saharan Africa, claiming an estimated 48,000 lives annually. The lack of screening and a critical shortage of breast cancer surgeons drive these high mortality rates. World Telehealth Initiative (WTI) is addressing these challenges through two groundbreaking projects in Rwanda, leveraging telehealth and integrated ultrasound technology to reduce barriers to care.
Ultrasound as a game-changer:
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Affordable, radiation-free, and portable.
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Well-suited for resource-limited settings.
These projects aim to streamline the breast and cervical cancer care pathway by shortening delays in diagnosis and treatment, improving patient outcomes, and expanding access to care.
Rwandan National Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Program Initiative
In collaboration with key stakeholders, WTI is supporting the Rwandan National Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Program. Progress so far includes:
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Technical review, relocation, installation, and testing of telehealth robots paired with ultrasound devices at Gisenyi District Hospital.
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Launching screenings for breast and cervical cancer.
Goals and Outcomes
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Address clinical gaps by training providers to perform clinical breast exams (CBE) and utilize ultrasound for live consultations, reducing time-to-diagnosis.
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Minimize patient travel:
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Replace up to 4 separate visits with just 2, by integrating CBE, ultrasound, and image reading into one telehealth-supported appointment.
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For patients requiring surgery, telehealth enables up to 3 post-op follow-ups remotely.
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The Rwandan Military Referral and Teaching Hospital (RMRTH)
As one of Rwanda’s four referral hospitals, RMRTH offers specialized care to military personnel and civilians. With 400+ beds and highly skilled professionals, it’s a leader in healthcare research and training. RMRTH’s strategic position and trusted reputation make it a cornerstone for programmatic success.
IRCAD Africa
Opened in 2023, IRCAD Africa is a cutting-edge facility under the globally recognized IRCAD network. Located in Kigali, this center is revolutionizing surgical innovation, artificial intelligence, and digital health solutions. As a key partner, IRCAD Africa’s expertise in technology integration will bolster telehealth expansion across Rwanda and the continent.
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Other Clinic Screening, Diagnosis, and Referral Sites
WTI completed a needs assessment to identify additional future remote clinics for telehealth integration. Selected clinics include:
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Rwamagana Provincial Hospital
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Nyagatare District Hospital
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Kirehe District Hospital
Achievements to date:
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Installed telehealth robots paired with Butterfly IQ portable ultrasound probes.
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Enabled remote screening, diagnosis, and referrals for advanced care.
Delivery And Implementation Of Devices
Seamless Logistics and Advanced Device Deployment
With the support of key sponsors such as Pfizer and Teladoc, World Telehealth Initiative
(WTI) successfully facilitated the airfreight shipment of five Teladoc Lite v3 devices to
Rwanda. Leveraging its trusted logistics partner, Stevens Global, WTI ensured timely
delivery and smooth customs clearance. This was made possible through close
collaboration with IRCAD Africa, Rwanda, securing necessary importation approvals.
WTI also provided comprehensive documentation, enabling IRCAD Africa to meet all
regulatory requirements for importing donated medical equipment.
Innovative Integration of Butterfly iQ Mobile Ultrasound
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WTI achieved a groundbreaking milestone by integrating the
Butterfly iQ ultrasound device with Teladoc Lite v3 virtual care systems.
This cutting-edge setup is revolutionizing telemedicine capabilities at
program sites and empowering healthcare providers in resource-limited
areas to deliver high-quality care.
How Butterfly iQ Works
The integration process involved:
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Extensive testing and refinements to ensure seamless connectivity and optimal performance.
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Utilizing Apple iPads, Apple TVs, HDMI cables, and DVI to HDMI adaptors for configuration.
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Testing real-time ultrasound image streaming through Teladoc Provider Access Software across various clinical scenarios.
Key Mobile Ultrasound Achievements
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Enhanced reliability, image quality, and hands-on training through remote provider collaboration.
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Real-time connectivity between on-site clinicians and global healthcare experts, improving diagnostic accuracy and care delivery.
This innovative integration exemplifies WTI's commitment to advancing telehealth solutions, enabling underserved regions to access advanced diagnostic tools and support from WTI's global network of healthcare professionals.
Empowering Communities Through a "Train the Trainer" Model
Deploying a "Train the Trainer" model is crucial for the successful, wide-scale deployment of a National Telehealth Network, as it ensures that local provider leaders can effectively support and train others in their communities. We have successfully trained five key local providers, including those fluent in local languages, to navigate the telehealth devices and implement best practices. This approach not only empowers these trainers but also accelerates the upskilling of resources in remote settings, enabling faster adoption and use of telehealth services across the nation.
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Barriers
Due to the innovative nature of our programming, the Ministry of Health (MOH) and other key stakeholders prioritized the creation and submission of a formal protocol to the Institutional Review Board (IRB). This was a crucial step to enable future publication and support the expansion of project programs. While essential for ensuring participant safety, ethical standards, and regulatory compliance, the IRB review process often introduces delays. Rigorous assessments, protocol revisions, and the time required for final approvals can extend project timelines.
Additionally, the outbreak of the Marburg virus posed unexpected challenges. Public health measures and emergency response efforts demanded significant resources and attention, diverting focus from non-essential activities and slowing the initiation of our telehealth initiatives.
Future programming will consider these during planning.
Meet the Researchers
Sharon Allen | Executive Director | World Telehealth Initiative
Sharon Allen is the co-founder and Executive Director of World Telehealth Initiative (WTI). As a recognized leader in international philanthropic telehealth, Sharon is often invited to speak at notable conferences, including American Telehealth Association, the White House Telehealth Innovation Summit, Nigeria’s Healthcare Today - Keynote, MENA Telehealth Conference, Telehealth Innovator’s Forum, AAFP Global Health Summit, and more. She has traveled extensively to understand the needs of low-resourced healthcare clinics and hospitals worldwide. Under her leadership, WTI has developed an innovative model that leverages remote philanthropic physicians to provide sustainable medical expertise via telehealth. Since its founding in 2017, WTI has established remote specialist care and training to onsite providers in many underserved communities throughout the world.
Sharon has been selected to serve on the World Health Organization Digital Health Board of Advisors and Roster of Experts. She is currently working with WHO on their Telehealth Roadmap for the Underserved.
Yulun Wang, PhD | Chairman, Board of Directors | Head of Research and Development | Teladoc Health
Dr. Wang is a Fellow at Teladoc Health (NYSE: TDOC). He’s the executive sponsor for Artificial Intelligence initiatives, and contributes to the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility efforts. Dr. Wang founded InTouch Health in 2003, and served as Chairman & CEO until 2016, when he assumed the position of Chairman and Chief Innovation Officer. InTouch Health was acquired by Teladoc Health in July, 2020, for $1.1 billion. Previous to InTouch, Dr. Wang founded Computer Motion in 1990, the company which pioneered surgical robotics. He was the inventor of the voice-controlled robotic arm called AESOP, the first FDA-cleared surgical robot, as well as the ZEUS robotic surgical system, which performed the world’s first transatlantic surgery. Computer Motion IPO’d in 1997 and merged with Intuitive Surgical (NASD: ISRG) in 2003 for one third of the resulting company. Dr. Wang is author to more than 50 technical publications and inventor on over 200 patents.
Dr. Wang served on the board of directors of Hoag Memorial Hospital in Newport Beach, CA from 2008 to 2015, and served on the board of the American Telemedicine Association from 2010 to 2016, including as President from 2014 to 2015. Dr. Wang serves on the board of WellAir (previously Novaerus) since 2015. He is Chairman of the non-profit World Telehealth Initiative, which uses telehealth to bring healthcare to impoverished areas. Dr. Wang serves on the board of Cottage Health System (since 2020), Santa Barbara, California. He has served for many years on the advisory boards of the Electrical and Computer Engineering, and the Mechanical Engineering Departments of the University of California, Santa Barbara. Dr. Wang has received many awards, including the 2017 IEEE Medal for Healthcare Innovation, and was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2011. Dr. Wang earned his Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 1988.
Matt Wayne | Managing Director | Medical Impact Ventures
Matt is the Managing Director of Medical Impact Ventures. He has partnered with leading experts in the field of medicine and medical adjacent industries to create and deliver ideas and technologies, grow products or accelerate ventures that deliver medical impact for patients and healthcare consumers.
As a professional consultant in the field of healthcare quality improvement for more than 10 years, he is experienced in implementing electronic medical record data-derived performance feedback & decision support tools, clinical process engineering, and healthcare IT systems design for the achievement of measurably improved healthcare outcomes (patient & economic).
He is a published medical author in the American Journal of Medicine for a technology he created related to electronic medical records that led to many awards including commendation from the Centers for Disease Control.
He has also been a successful collaborator on a number of major healthcare related projects and initiatives that have improved the quality of care and outcomes in more than ten therapeutic areas.
Through MIV, Matt actively invests in early stage start-ups and helps accelerate new and growing ventures in healthcare and wellness, medtech, edtech, and ventures in any vertical leveraging AI, machine learning and healthcare blockchain. He is an active investor and advisory board member for numerous start-ups and helps executives at early and later stage companies ideate and growth hack.
As an avid athlete and where he gets his best ideas (training or on the race course) he has been an elite age group triathlete, Ironman, Boston and NYC Marathon qualifier and finisher, Empire State Building Run-Up Race competitor, and winner of the CEO division of the Escape from Alcatraz. He has begun training for his next race The Arch to Arc, a race beginning with a run from the Marble Arch in London to the coast, a swim across the English Channel, and finishing with a bike ride from the coast to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.
Key Stakeholder Development: Building Sustainable Partnerships
At World Telehealth Initiative (WTI), fostering relationships with key stakeholders is essential for ensuring the success, sustainability, and equity of global health programming. This year, we focused on cultivating high-impact partnerships and champions at senior levels within the Rwandan government and local healthcare facilities. By engaging senior officials and healthcare leaders, we secured critical buy-in to support program implementation and align our initiatives with Rwanda's national health priorities. Our esteemed champion partners to date include:
Corneille Ntihabose, MD
Dr. Ntihabose serves as the Head of the Clinical and Public Health Services Department at Rwanda's Ministry of Health. He is leading an ambitious project to upgrade 1,000 health posts by 2025, a transformative initiative supported by the United Nations. Focused on financial sustainability and technological integration, this project aims to improve healthcare access for vulnerable populations, including women, children, refugees, and the elderly.
Michelle Smith, MD
Dr. Smith is a highly accomplished surgeon with over a decade of practice in the United States, where she served as a Professor of Surgery in California and Texas. She was the first Fellow of IRCAD France twenty years ago and is now the Managing Director of IRCAD Africa. IRCAD, the Institut de Recherche contre les Cancers de l'Appareil Digestif (Institute for Research into Cancer of the Digestive System), is renowned for its expertise in minimally invasive and robotic surgery. Under Dr. Smith's leadership, IRCAD Africa continues to advance surgical innovation and training across the continent.
Ainhoa Costas-Chivarri, MD MPH
Dr. Costas-Chavarri, a general surgeon and Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, has dedicated over 13 years to improving healthcare in Rwanda. She currently serves as Co-Chair of the Department of Surgery at the Rwanda Military Referral and Teaching Hospital (RMRTH) in Kigali. Her research and work are widely published in peer-reviewed journals, focusing on advancing surgical care in Africa and globally. RMRTH serves both military and civilian patients through specialized departments, including Orthopedic Surgery, General Surgery, Neurosurgery, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, and Dermatology.
Jeanine Condo, MD PhD
Dr. Condo is a distinguished medical doctor and public health expert with extensive leadership experience. She currently serves as Managing Director of CIIC-HIN in Rwanda and holds adjunct associate professorships at both the University of Rwanda and Tulane University. As the former Director General of Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC), she led a team of 700 staff to enhance healthcare delivery through evidence-based approaches. Her expertise has significantly advanced health information systems, nutrition, and public health initiatives in Rwanda and beyond.
Our Partners
This project was developed with in-kind technology contributions from Teladoc, the world leader in whole-person virtual care, an unrestricted grant from Pfizer, collaboration from Medical Impact Ventures, a health improvement outcomes agency, and with the support of local and regional health centers, health agencies, volunteer and governmental agencies including Butterfly iQ Mobile Ultrasound, IRCAD Africa, Rwandan Military Referral and Teaching Hospital, Rwamagana Provincial Hospital , Nyagatare District Hospital, Kirehe District Hospital.
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