Represented by Health Minister Dr. Jean Damascene Ntawukuriryayo, Rwanda becomes part of the 13-member rotating Board of the Alliance – its highest management body. The Board sets the policies, as well as monitors and oversees all programme areas.
The GAVI Alliance – as it is now called – is an international private-public partnership targeting curbing deaths of children through the worldwide expansion of childhood vaccination programs.
Its efforts have been critical to achieving the UN Millennium Development Goal on child health, which calls for reducing childhood mortality by two-thirds by 2015. Of the more than 10 million children who die before reaching their fifth birthday every year, 2.5 million die from diseases that could be prevented with currently available or new vaccines.
As of June, some 78 million dollars have been earmarked for various programs in Rwanda by the Alliance running up from the year 2000 to 2015. The latest program application was submitted in May.
Rwanda like all its regional neighbours are among 72 countries worldwide that are benefiting from the Alliance including 38 African countries. Some $3.5 Billion worth of programs as of 2007 has been approved.
In the spotlight however, is Uganda where two senior Cabinet Ministers and several top officials are facing the courts of law after misusing the Alliance’s $4.3m fund for children’ vaccination programs.
In its assessment of Rwanda, the Alliance says that as of last year, immunization coverage was more than 85% of children in the country. In some doses, the program has attained 100% outreach.
Rwanda also stands out a one of very few countries where Health Ministry spending allocations on immunization tops 15%. From the budget required to procure vaccines for routine immunization, government is footing some 28% – meaning the authorities are investing considerably in making sure the country’s children do grow up healthy.
Rwanda will set on the same platform with Yemen, Ethiopia, Armenia and Viet Nam – in addition to members from the developed countries and others from the private, civil society and research sectors. (End)