Rwanda news and features

Kenya becomes the first country to protect girls against cervical cancer with GAVI-supported human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines.

Historic agreements show power of innovative public-private partnership

Rwanda, through the supporters of GAVI Alliance, WHO, UNICEF and other members of the Measles-rubella Initiative, is rolling out a new dual measles-rubella vaccine aimed at immunising 5 millon children. This is the story 37 year old Giovance,mother of five, and her decision to get all her children immunised with the MR vaccine.

Rwanda is the first country in Africa to introduce the conjugate measles and rubella vaccine with support from the GAVI Alliance. When this immunisation campaign was launched, Agnès Binagwaho, Minister of Health of Rwanda, answered GAVI’s questions.

Rwanda’s measles-rubella vaccination campaign is the beginning of an effort to vaccinate more than 700 million children under 15 years of age against two disabling and deadly diseases.

International Women's Day 2013 marks the beginning of a dramatic shift in the health of women and girls. Starting this year, GAVI is supporting the poorest countries of the world to roll out two vaccines that will directly benefit women and girls: human papillomavirus (HPV) against cervical cancer and rubella against 'German measles'.

Rwanda was the first African country to introduce HPV vaccines, immunising school girls nationwide with donated vaccines. In 2014 GAVI will support this programme with a sustainable supply of paid for HPV vaccines. This short film follows the third round of HPV vaccination in October 2012.

In its first ever Multilateral Organisation Performance Assessment Network (MOPAN) review the GAVI Alliance has been commended for its effectiveness in increasing access to immunisation and for its focus on results.

The GAVI Alliance celebrated the accomplishments of 12 countries in increasing access to immunisation during a ceremony last night at the GAVI Partners’ Forum. The ceremony was hosted by the UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Yvonne Chaka Chaka and Tanzanian radio host Taji Liunn.

The GAVI Alliance plans to work with countries to prepare them for nationwide roll outs of the vaccine against the human papillomavirus (HPV), the leading cause of cervical cancer.