…1.5 m children in Africa received first malaria vaccine
By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
As Africa marks the 2023 World Malaria Day, WMD, today the World Health Organization, WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, has said that Africa alone accounts for an estimated 234 million malaria cases and 593,000 deaths, making the continent the hardest hit.
This was disclosed in a message by WHO to mark the 16th WMD today in Africa.
Speaking on the burden of malaria, Moeti said that Africa bears the heaviest burden of over 95% cases and 96% of deaths globally.
“Our Region, therefore, continues to be the hardest hit by this deadly disease, partly because too many people do not have access to preventive and curative interventions.”
Moeti who described malaria as a stubborn public health enemy, said that killed 619,000 people living in Africa.
According to the WHO lead in Africa, malaria is 6-20 times more likely to spread in mosquito-prone environments than the Omicron variant of sars-cov-2.
She disclosed that despite the pandemic progressively, 75% of the planned 171 million insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs) were distributed in addition to expansion of seasonal malaria preventive treatment to nearly 45 million children in 15 African countries.
A significant increase from 33.4 million in 2020, while malaria testing and treatment services were maintained. More than 1.6 billion malaria cases and 11 million malaria deaths were averted in the WHO African Region from 2000-2021.
Meanwhile, at least 1.5 million children in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi have received the first malaria vaccine, known as RTS,S, recommended by WHO to prevent malaria in children through a pilot Programme which has helped to decrease hospitalization for severe Malai and a drop in child deaths.
WHO also hinted that at least 28 countries in Africa have expressed interest in the vaccine, with some additional countries to start in early 2024.
“It is critically important to deliver this vaccine to children at risk: WHO, Gavi, UNICEF, and other partners are working to increase supply as rapidly as possible to protect more vulnerable children and save more lives.”
“The unprecedented demand for the first malaria vaccine is considered an opportunity to bring children back to clinics to catch up on missed vaccines and child health interventions – including reinforcing the need for children to sleep under ITNs every night.”
” It is critically important to deliver this vaccine to children at risk: WHO, Gavi, UNICEF, and other partners are working to increase supply as rapidly as possible to protect more vulnerable children and save more lives.”
Furthermore, WHO disclosed that a robust research and development is in the pipeline to bring a new generation of malaria control tools that could help accelerate progress towards global targets of eradication.
Finally, the WHO lead called on each Member State to redouble it commitment to acceleration plan to rapidly reduce the burden of malaria and save the lives of its populations.
This can be done by ensuring that everyone, everywhere, has access to the quality and affordable malaria services they need, Moeti advised.
