Agnes Binagwaho
At a glance
| Born | Nyamagabe, Southern Province |
|---|---|
| Known for | Minister of Health, May 2011 to July 2016 |
| Earlier role | Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, 2008 to 2011 |
| Later role | Co-founder and Vice Chancellor of the University of Global Health Equity, 2017 to 2022 |
| Studied | MD, Université libre de Bruxelles; paediatrics, Université de Bretagne Occidentale |
Source: Wikipedia: Agnes Binagwaho1
Early life
Binagwaho was born in Nyamagabe, in the Southern Province, and moved to Belgium with her family at the age of three. She qualified in medicine at the Université libre de Bruxelles and specialised in paediatrics at the Université de Bretagne Occidentale in France. In 2014 she became the first person to receive a PhD from the University of Rwanda’s College of Medicine and Health Sciences.1
Ministry of Health
She returned to Rwanda in July 1996, two years after the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, and worked as a doctor in the public sector. She was Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health from October 2008 and Minister of Health from May 2011 to July 2016.1
Teaching
Binagwaho co-founded the University of Global Health Equity in Rwanda and was its Vice Chancellor from 2017 to 2022. She has been a senior lecturer at Harvard Medical School since 2008.1
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Agnes Binagwaho?
A Rwandan paediatrician, Minister of Health from 2011 to 2016.
What is the University of Global Health Equity?
A university in Rwanda that she co-founded and led as Vice Chancellor from 2017 to 2022.
When did she return to Rwanda?
In July 1996, and worked as a doctor in the public sector.
Sources
Facts checked 9 November 2026. Prepared by InvestRwanda.com for general information.
