Nigeria is poised to take a significant step in its fight against malaria with the arrival of its first consignment of malaria vaccines today, Thursday, October 16.
The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) announced that the vaccines would be received in Abuja by Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare.
This initiative is part of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) efforts to distribute malaria vaccines to high-burden countries across Africa, including Nigeria.
The vaccine, known as RTS,S/AS01 (Mosquirix), has been proven to reduce malaria cases and mortality among young children in large clinical trials across Africa.
Nigeria will be the third African country to introduce the vaccine, following Ghana and Kenya, which began using the vaccine in 2023.
Malaria remains a serious public health issue in Nigeria, affecting 97% of the population, with the country accounting for 27% of global malaria cases and 31% of global malaria deaths.
The government has developed a strategic distribution plan to prioritize regions most affected by malaria, particularly in rural areas where access to healthcare is limited. The rollout will begin in these high-burden regions before expanding nationwide.
Public health experts are optimistic about the vaccine’s potential to save lives and significantly reduce the malaria burden in Nigeria.
When combined with other preventive measures, the vaccine is expected to bring the country closer to achieving the goal of a malaria-free Africa.
The National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP) has been working to reduce malaria prevalence to below 10% and malaria-related deaths to fewer than 50 per 1,000 people by 2025.
Efforts have included switching to injectable artesunate for severe malaria treatment and increasing coverage of preventive malaria treatments for pregnant women.
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