World Health Organization, WHO approves the world’s first malaria vaccines in Africa
World Health Organization, WHO approves the world’s first malaria vaccines in Africa.
The Vaccines have been approved for use in children in Africa. Research has it that malaria is responsible for 400,000 deaths a year, mostly young children in sub-Saharan Africa.
Malaria is a deadly disease caused by a parasite spread by the bites of infected mosquitoes. The vaccine known as Mosquirix or RTS,S consists of part of a protein from the parasite. The vaccine is said to have been developed for nearly 40 years.
Director General of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says ‘the vaccine is a gift to the world but its value will be felt most in Africa because that’s where the burden of malaria is greatest.
“The malaria vaccine is safe and significantly reduces life threatening severe disease. It can be delivered through child health clinics by Ministers of Health and reach chidren in high covered levels. Today, the RTS,S malaria vaccine, more than 30years in the making changes the course of public health history. The vaccine is a gift to the world but its value will be felt most in Africa” he said
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The World Health Organization has confirmed over 800,000 children have already received their first dose of the RST,S malaria vaccine.
“Over 800k Chidren have so far received the RTS,S malaria vaccine and are benefiting from this additional protection against malaria. The vaccine significantly reduces malaria. RTS,S vaccine was introduced in a pilot programme two years ago. Since then more than 2.3 doses of the vaccine have been administered across Ghana, Kenya and Malawi” a statement from WHO detailed.
Malaria if not the deadliest disease in Africa, is one of the deadliest and introducing this vaccine is truly a breakthrough and goodnews for the world especially Africans.
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