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Reimagining Health and Mental Health Systems for Social Inclusion in Migration: Insights from Rwanda and Sub-Saharan Africa
Joseph Kalisa
University of Rwanda, Rwanda and Geruka Healing Centre
In the Great Lakes region and Sub-Saharan Africa, migration driven by conflict, displacement, and environmental crises profoundly affects health and mental well-being. Rwanda, shaped by the legacy of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, provides critical lessons in fostering social inclusion through health and mental health systems. Despite challenges such as limited resources, stigma, and fragmented services, Rwanda’s decentralized system of care highlights the potential of culturally grounded, community-based, and trauma-informed approaches to address the unique needs of displaced and migrant populations.
By leveraging regional collaboration and addressing social determinants of health, Rwanda’s experiences offer a model for creating inclusive, sustainable systems. These lessons extend globally, providing pathways to equity, resilience, and dignity in the face of increasing migration challenges worldwide.
