Concerned with the spread of the Ebola Virus Disease in the neighbouring country, the Government of Rwanda, through the Ministry of Health has launched since December 8th, 2019, in Rubavu District and December 18th 2019 in Rusizi District the UMURINZI Program, a voluntary Ebola vaccination campaign.
Since the launching of the UMURINZI Program, a total of fourteen (14) Ebola vaccination sites have been opened and were operational in the two Districts of Rubavu and Rusizi. Eight (8) vaccination sites have been operational in Rubavu District throughout the voluntary Ebola vaccination campaign, whereas six (6) vaccination sites have been opened in Rusizi District. The UMURINZI Program team has opened gradually these Ebola vaccination sites based on the need of better covering the high risk zones of the two Districts.
These Ebola vaccination sites operated to provide Ebola vaccines to all those deemed to be at risk of exposure to the virus (i.e. those who frequently cross the border with the country in which the Ebola outbreaks occurred, as well as their close contacts).
This vaccine provision exercise has been conducted following various trials of the Ebola vaccine in different countries but also SAGE/WHO’s recommendations on the use of the Johnson & Johnson “Two doses” Ebola vaccine regimen (i.e.: Ad26.ZEBOV and MVA-BN®-Filo first and second Ebola vaccine respectively). Thus, Rwanda FDA partnering with other bodies of the Ministry of Health have revised the trials made about this Ebola vaccine around the world and approved it was safe and could be given to all those in high risk zone.
Considering the importance of fighting the spread of the Ebola virus together with the neighbouring country, as virus don’t know the concept of borders; Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have set a good example for the rest of the world in the cross-border collaboration and cooperation, but also in the implementation of the international health regulations by jointly launching the Ebola vaccination campaign.
For almost two years, Rinda Ubuzima, the organization that the Ministry of Health entrusted to conduct the UMURINZI Program’s community engagement activities, has been implementing the mobilization, sensitization, recruitment, and retention activities through multiple channels in the target communities. These activities were conducted with the aim of educating the population on Ebola prevention measures and facilitating them to understand the importance of the prevention tool – Ebola vaccine – that the Government of Rwanda through the Ministry of Health has put in place to keep them safe.
Throughout the voluntary Ebola vaccination campaign, community engagement and outreach activities have been implemented using multiple channels of communication. With the COVID-19 situation, Rinda Ubuzima has revised its community engagement and outreach strategies to make sure that we better serve the community despite the ongoing pandemic. Educational sessions in the communities, mass media campaign, local leaders and Community Health Workers’ involvement, and door-to-door mobilization strategies have helped the community engagement team in educating the population on Ebola prevention measures and facilitating them to understand the importance of the used Ebola prevention tool – the vaccine – to keep them safe.