Rwanda Red Cross (RRC) has received a grant worth Rwf141.2 million from The Coca-Cola Foundation that is aimed at saving more lives by conducting awareness campaigns to increase vaccination coverage so as to stop the spread of COVID-19.

The support was given to Rwanda Red Cross (RRC) through International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in Africa.

The grant was handed over to RRC by the local bottling company of Coca-Cola, BRALIRWA Plc on behalf of The Coca-Cola Foundation on June 3, 2022.

Fred Tumwebaze in charge of disaster management at Rwanda Red Cross said that the "Stop the Spread Project” will allow the carrying out of COVID-19 awareness and vaccination campaigns across the country. 

"The activities will increase the uptake of vaccination against COVID-19. We have volunteers, across the country from national to community level, who have strength in mobilization that will help in stopping the spread of COVID-19. We have volunteers with structure and equipment who have been at the frontline of combating COVID-19,” he said.

The project outcomes include training staff and volunteers on vaccination campaign management, support in setting up vaccination sites and ongoing administrative and community mobilization and supporting vulnerable people to reach vaccination sites.

"We will work with the Ministry of Health to identify vaccination sites. We have a toll-free number 2100 which people can call to inform us of the challenges they are facing,” he said.

The project also seeks to support in creating or strengthening follow up mechanisms to follow up and provide reminders for more doses as well as supporting the delivery of vaccines in hard-to-reach areas.

Among the interventions also include developing advocacy tools, advocacy campaigns, events, training and webinars at community health centres.

"Community has trust in the Rwanda Red Cross, and this will help us to easily implement the project funded by The Coca-Cola Foundation. We will also help in vaccinating children that are above 5 years old,” he said.

Tumwebaze said the Rwanda Red Cross volunteers are part of the Government’s COVID-19 prevention task force, adding that they performed well in preventing the spread of COVID-19 during the first phase of support from The Coca-Cola Foundation in 2020.

The project activities will also document and disseminate best practices, establish or strengthen existing community feedback mechanisms to monitor and act on community beliefs, rumors, questions and suggestions about COVID-19 responses and the vaccine.

Adopting health information and activities based on feedback collected from communities, using trusted approaches and channels to support people to adopt safe health practices, and accept vaccines, working with representative community groups, leaders, influencers and networks to identify and support practical solutions in preventing the spread of the pandemic are among the project interventions.

According to Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC), the current coverage of vaccination in the country stands at 69 percent with 1st dose, 65 percent with 2nd dose and 35 percent 3rd dose.

The national target is 70 percent fully vaccinated.

"The journey might look small from 65 percent to 70 percent yet it’s not like that. It needs a lot of effort to mobilize the smallest number than when people were looking for vaccination,” Tumwebaze said.

He added, "Considering also the coming vaccination of children above 5, it is also very hard to convince a parent that a child above five has to be vaccinated, which we think we will put more focus on mobilizing parents to allow their children to be vaccinated. It is scientifically proven that vaccinations for young age are better than for older age.” The support is in addition to provision of technical assistance and coordination training and capacity building for staff, volunteers or health ministry staff on Risk communication and community engagement (RCCE)-essential components of a broader health emergency preparedness and response action plan-approaches as well as conducting awareness sessions on Covid-19 vaccine in areas where access to information is limited.

Aline Pascale Batamuliza, Corporate Affairs and Communication Manager at BRALIRWA Plc that handed over the grant to RRC said that after realizing that Rwanda Red Cross spent well the previous support in preventing the spread of COVID-19, The Coca-Cola Foundation injected more funds in their efforts as a second phase of the support.

"COVID-19 pandemic is still there. All people have not yet been vaccinated. We represent The Coca-Cola Foundation to back the efforts to end COVID-19 pandemic in Rwanda,” she said. 

Dr. Hassan Sibomana, the Director of Vaccination Program at Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC) said that the support was timely considering that some Rwandans are yet to be vaccinated.

"So far 65 percent of Rwanda’s population has been vaccinated against COVID-19 with two doses. Those vaccinated with two doses and a booster dose is currently at 35 percent. That is why the project funded by The Coca-Cola Foundation is timely to help increase the uptake,” he said.

He noted that the support will strengthen awareness campaigns adding that children over five years old will also soon be vaccinated.

"We are targeting to reach 70 percent of all the population vaccinated and the support will play a crucial role. We urge people to maintain COVID-19 prevention measures because the pandemic is still there and therefore should be vaccinated,” he said.

BRALIRWA Plc is a Rwandan manufacturer of beers and soft drinks that was founded in 1957. In 1974, the Company started producing and selling soft drink brands under a licensing agreement with The Coca-Cola Company. 

The Coca-Cola Foundation is the global philanthropic arm of The Coca-Cola Company. Since its inception in 1984, the Foundation has awarded more than $1.2 billion in grants to support sustainable community initiatives —from water to women’s empowerment, from community recycling to wellbeing—around the world.

Aline Pascale Batamuliza, The Director of Corporate Affairs and Communication at BRALIRWA Plc that handed over the grant to RRC.

Dr. Hassan Sibomana, the Director of Vaccination Program at Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC) said  the project funded by Coca-Cola Foundation is timely to help increase the uptake.

Fred Tumwebaze in charge of disaster management at Rwanda Red Cross speaks to the media.

Pierre-Claver Ndimbati, Head of Programmes at Rwanda Red Cross and Interim Secretary General welcoming the support.

The grant was handed over to RRC by local beverages manufacturer, Bralirwa on behalf of Coca-Cola Foundation on June 3, 2022.