KIGALI, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- Rwanda has introduced a universal hepatitis B birth dose into the national immunization program as part of efforts to eliminate the viral disease as a public health threat within the next four years.
In a statement released on Friday, the Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC) said this will ensure that all newborns receive the vaccine within 24 hours of birth to prevent mother-to-child transmission of the hepatitis B virus and its lifelong complications.
"The birth dose vaccine is the most effective and cost-effective intervention to prevent mother-to-child transmission. Introduction of the universal birth dose further strengthens Rwanda's commitment to eliminating viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030," the statement said.
To implement the initiative, the RBC said the government has trained health workers, reinforced cold chain systems to ensure vaccine safety, and equipped health facilities nationwide to provide the vaccine within 24 hours of birth, including for babies born outside health facilities.
Hepatitis B is a highly infectious viral disease that can be transmitted from mother to child during childbirth. According to the World Health Organization, about 254 million people worldwide are living with chronic hepatitis B, while in Rwanda, official data show a low hepatitis B prevalence of about 0.26 percent. ■