Abuja, Oct. 17, 2024 (TheGavel) – Nigeria is poised to take a monumental step in its fight against malaria, with the anticipated arrival of the first consignment of malaria vaccines on Thursday. This landmark moment is expected to play a critical role in reducing the nation’s high malaria burden, particularly among children.
The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) confirmed that the vaccines will be received in Abuja by Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare. The announcement was made through an official invitation circulated on Wednesday.
The arrival of the vaccines is part of a larger initiative led by the World Health Organization (WHO) to distribute malaria vaccines to African countries with the highest burden of the disease, including Nigeria.
Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the NPHCDA will unveil the malaria vaccines in a ceremony on Thursday. These vaccines are expected to provide a new layer of protection for children, who are particularly vulnerable to the disease, which remains one of Nigeria’s deadliest health threats.
Strategic Rollout Plan
The government has developed a comprehensive distribution strategy to prioritize regions most affected by malaria, particularly rural areas with limited access to healthcare services. The initial rollout will target these high-burden regions before expanding to the rest of the country.
The vaccines, known as RTS,S/AS01 (brand name: Mosquirix), have undergone extensive clinical trials across Africa, where they were shown to significantly reduce both malaria cases and mortality rates among young children. Nigeria will be the third African country to introduce the vaccine, following in the footsteps of Ghana and Kenya, which began administering the vaccine in 2023.
Malaria’s Devastating Impact in Nigeria
Malaria remains a significant public health challenge in Nigeria, affecting an estimated 97% of the population. The disease is transmitted year-round in the southern regions and for up to three months in the northern parts of the country. The primary malaria vectors are mosquitoes, particularly Anopheles coluzzii and Anopheles gambiae, with Anopheles funestus also contributing in some areas.
Nigeria accounts for 27% of global malaria cases and 31% of global malaria deaths, making it the country with the highest malaria burden in the world. In children under five, the malaria prevalence rate dropped from 42% in 2010 to 23% in 2018, although disparities remain between rural (31%) and urban (13%) populations, as well as across socioeconomic groups.
Efforts to Combat Malaria
In response to the malaria crisis, the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP) launched the High Burden High Impact (HBHI) initiative aimed at reducing malaria prevalence to below 10% and malaria-related deaths to fewer than 50 per 1,000 people by 2025.
Recent efforts include the introduction of injectable artesunate for treating severe malaria and increased coverage of preventive malaria treatments for pregnant women. For example, the percentage of pregnant women receiving at least three doses of intermittent preventive treatment with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine rose from 16.6% in 2018 to 31% in 2021.
However, challenges remain, including low attendance rates for antenatal care and limited access to malaria treatment in some areas.
Hope for a Malaria-Free Future
Public health experts have expressed optimism about the impact the malaria vaccine will have in Nigeria. When combined with other preventive measures, the vaccine could drastically reduce the malaria burden, saving thousands of lives each year.
“This vaccine brings us closer to a malaria-free Nigeria,” said a spokesperson from the NPHCDA. “It has the potential to transform our efforts in combating one of the deadliest diseases in the country.”
As Nigeria prepares to welcome the new vaccines, the hope is that the country will move closer to its goal of eliminating malaria, providing better health outcomes for its most vulnerable populations.(NAN)
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