The World Health Organisation (WHO) is making significant strides in the fight against malaria in Africa. Driven by the goal to save lives, particularly those of vulnerable groups, the WHO is expanding access to life-saving malaria vaccines in several African nations.
During the 2024 World Malaria Day sensitization walk and celebration organized by the Ekiti State Ministry of Health in Ado Ekiti, a WHO official, Isaac Adedayo, emphasized the importance of increasing the coverage of insecticide-treated nets to combat the malaria scourge, as it disproportionately affects pregnant women and children.
The Republic of Benin, Liberia, and Sierra Leone have recently launched a large-scale rollout of the life-saving malaria vaccine, targeting millions of children in these West African nations. This initiative is part of the global celebration of the 17th World Malaria Day, themed “Advancing health equity, gender equality, and human rights.” WHO’s statement highlighted the significance of this vaccine rollout, particularly its contribution to enhancing health equity and gender equality in the region.
The wider rollout of life-saving malaria vaccines in Africa is underway, with the vaccine already protecting children in Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi. The WHO aims to introduce the vaccine in additional African countries in the coming weeks and throughout 2024, furthering the cause of comprehensive malaria prevention.
Isaac Adedayo, the WHO official in Ekiti State, revealed that Nigeria is set to join the ranks of African countries benefiting from malaria vaccines, ensuring greater access to malaria prevention for pregnant women, nursing mothers, and young people.
The expansion of malaria vaccine coverage is crucial in addressing the pressing health challenges faced by African nations. With the commitment of the World Health Organisation and the proactive efforts of individual countries, the fight against malaria is gaining momentum, offering hope for a healthier future for the continent’s most vulnerable populations.
