Blaise Karibushi, MD, MPH, MBA

Access Project Country Director

Blaise is the Country Director of the Access Project in Rwanda. He joined the Access Project in 2006, bringing more than16 years of experience in planning, implementation and execution of numerous public health programs. Leading Access’ work in Rwanda, Blaise provides operational oversight and daily activity coordination to ensure proper implementation of the project’s objectives. He also heads the Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) program that aims to control five NTDs in Rwanda. Blaise’s primary task is to work with health officials to ensure that key health systems function well and that the people of Rwanda receive quality health care.

Before assuming his current position, Blaise served as the national coordinator of the Global Fund Project Management Unit in Rwanda, where he managed four Global Fund projects with a total budget of $100 million. Previously, he was the director of the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Program. In that capacity Blaise was responsible for advising the Ministry of Health on the overall strategy for the control of tuberculosis and the elimination of leprosy in the Country.

Blaise has published several articles and has done consultancies for numerous institutions such as the World Health Organization and Rwanda’s Ministry of Health. He was a finalist for the Rex Fendall Award for Excellence in Writing for his publication entitled “Delayed TB case findings in Rwanda: Possible reasons and Recommendation” in Boston. Blaise has presented and participated in several international conferences in Africa, North America, and Asia. He is affiliated with the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (IUATLD), the American Public Health Association, the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH) and Rwandan Medical Association (RMA). Blaise holds an MBA degree from the Maastricht School of Management, Netherlands, MPH from Boston University (USA) and MD from the University of Kinshasa (DRC).