"Art is beneficial to every person’s mental health, patient or not. Studies have found a direct and strong link between the content of images that art offers and the brain’s reaction to pain, stress, and anxiety. Many studies have demonstrated the benefits of the arts in healthcare in hospitals, nursing homes, senior centers, hospices, and other locations within the community. Injoge Karangwa, an artiste with health care experience came up with 'Hamwe Festival' as a platform to leverage art to contribute to advancing global health agenda. 'I am a musician with a background in public health. At some point it felt natural for me to bring those two worlds together,' she said"
"Hamwe, which means “together” or “unity” in Kinyarwanda, is the result of the collaboration between global health professionals and creatives who share the same belief that, in order to achieve global health equity, bridges must be built across sectors. Fostering cross-sector collaborations and shared investments will generate innovative approaches resulting in better health outcomes for all. During the festival, artists, creative entrepreneurs, global health professionals, academics and other participants will showcase how the power of the arts and creativity can be successfully leveraged to generate health and equity gains and reflect together on how more can be done. "
