American billionaire and philanthropist Bill Gates has arrived in Rwanda to assess the country’s progress in healthcare, artificial intelligence (AI), and digital public infrastructure, highlighting Rwanda’s growing reputation as a leader in technology-driven healthcare innovation in Africa.
In a post shared on LinkedIn, Gates praised Rwanda’s remarkable achievements in strengthening its healthcare system over the past two decades.
“Over the last 25 years, Rwanda has delivered one of Africa’s most remarkable health transformations. The country shows what is possible when governments not only invest in life-saving technologies but focus on getting those technologies into the hands of the people who need them most,” Gates said.
His visit comes several months after the Gates Foundation and OpenAI announced a partnership to accelerate AI-powered healthcare across Africa, with Rwanda selected as the first country to pilot the initiative.
Launched earlier this year, the Horizon 1000 programme is backed by a $50 million investment and aims to introduce artificial intelligence tools to 1,000 primary healthcare clinics and surrounding communities by 2028.
The initiative is designed to support healthcare professionals by improving disease diagnosis, strengthening clinical decision-making, enhancing resource allocation, and increasing the efficiency of healthcare delivery.
Gates commended Rwanda’s commitment to data-driven healthcare, noting that the country’s health system consistently measures performance and uses evidence to improve outcomes.
He also highlighted Rwanda’s significant progress in child health, pointing out that deaths among children under the age of five have declined by approximately 73%, falling from around 59,000 in 2000 to 16,000 today.
According to Gates, Rwanda’s strong vaccination programmes and well-organised healthcare system have played a major role in achieving these improvements.
Rwanda has continued investing heavily in digital health technologies in recent years. In 2025, the country launched the National Health Intelligence Centre (NHIC) AI Lab, which uses data from community health workers, health centres, and hospitals to improve patient care, health financing, and evidence-based decision-making.
The country has also expanded digital healthcare services through platforms such as Community EMR (cEMR), E-Ubuzima, and E-Fiche, enabling healthcare providers to manage patient records electronically and monitor treatment throughout the patient’s healthcare journey.
Bill Gates’ visit further reinforces Rwanda’s growing position as one of Africa’s leading destinations for innovation in digital health and artificial intelligence. As the country continues investing in advanced technologies and strategic global partnerships, Rwanda is strengthening its ambition to build a smarter, more resilient healthcare system that improves access and outcomes for all citizens.
