East African community (read Republic of Rwanda) could soon become a study centre for cervical cancer vaccine effectiveness and equity.

Rwanda has become the world’s first East African and low-income country to attain universal coverage for the life saving vaccine.

Research results of a national human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme done in Rwanda in 2011 and also published in August in the World Health Organisation (WHO) Bulletin indicated successful lessons that could motivate other countries in Africa to adopt the HPV vaccine programme during their children health immunisation days.

Rwanda attained 93 per cent coverage after the first three-dose course of HPV vaccination.

The World Health Organisation urges other countries in Africa to expand their vaccination programmes to include the HPV vaccine, with due customization according to their epidemiological, economic, political, and health system contexts.

WHO reports indicates that Rwanda’s HPV universal vaccine coverage success is attributed to the use of a multi-sectoral approach involving the health and education sectors.