Exploring service delivery strategies, their frequency and long-term coverage trends using school-based platforms. – Rwanda

In Rwanda, the HPV vaccination programme — Africa’s first, launched in 2011 — has evolved through three delivery phases: a school grade-based campaign model (2011–2014), integration into routine immunization targeting 12-year-old girls (2015–present), and a single-dose schedule from 2024. Over 2 million girls have received at least one HPV dose since introduction, with coverage consistently above 90% except during COVID-19 disruptions. Delivery relies primarily on school-based outreach aligned with the school calendar, with CHWs enrolling out-of-school girls and health facilities serving as catch-up sites. Key challenges included dropout tracking under the two-dose schedule, inconsistent vaccine supply timelines, health worker turnover, and engagement with international schools. Enablers include strong political commitment (including First Lady involvement at launch), community engagement, digital monitoring via eTracker and e-VLMIS, and robust MOH–MOE inter-ministerial collaboration. From 2025, the programme integrates concomitant HPV vaccination and cervical cancer screening to accelerate elimination goals.

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