Kigali — Two months after the Ministry of Health (MOH) launched the pneumococcal vaccine at Ruhuha Health Centre, Eastern Province; the dose has finally reached all health centres in the country.

The development was confirmed yesterday by Dr Fidele Ngabo, the Manager of the Expanded Programme of Immunisation during an interview with The New Times.

"The vaccine has finally reached all health centres in the country and as part of the national immunization programme, it is being administered to all children under the age of one year just like they receive other vaccines," Ngabo said.

During the launch of the vaccine in April, the Minister of Health, Dr. Richard Sezibera revealed that pneumococcal diseases, despite being preventable, were the leading killer of children under five years, adding that in Rwanda these diseases account for 25 percent of the country's child mortality rate.

"We are the first nation to introduce this vaccine in sub-Saharan Africa and this initiative aims at improving the health of our children so that we build stronger generations for tomorrow," Sezibera said at the launch.

He also explained that 395,000 children will be immunized annually adding that a child will have to complete the three doses before reaching his or her first birthday.

Gavi Alliance and Wyeth are some of the Global Health Partners that supported this cause by donating the vaccine to Rwanda.

The vaccine prevents pneumococcal diseases, such as pneumonia, meningitis, sinus infections and certain blood infections.

Other African countries that will soon introduce this vaccine with the same aim of "counting out child death" include Kenya, the Central African Republic, Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo.