KEY POINTS
- Nigeria launches a malaria vaccination program targeting children under five.
- The RTS, S vaccine is expected to significantly reduce malaria-related deaths.
- Health officials aim to reach millions of vulnerable children in high-risk regions.
Nigeria has launched its malaria vaccination campaign, a historic public health campaign targeting millions of children under the age of five to protect them from one of Nigeria’s deadliest diseases.
The launch of the RTS,S malaria vaccine is a breakthrough in the fight against malaria which an prevent the deaths of thousands of children per year.
High-risk children are the target of the RTS,S vaccine
Malaria is still a major killer in Nigeria especially among the children. As a result of this, different health authorities have deployed RTS,S vaccine which seems to have a positive impact in lessening of malaria associated illness and deaths.
The vaccine is directed at Plasmodium falciparum, the most lethal type of malaria parasite, which is common in many regions of sub-Saharan Africa.
Government authorities have said that the vaccination will be mainly administered in areas that are most affected by malaria. The aim is to provide immunization to millions of children below the age of five years because they are the most vulnerable in malaria incidences in the country.
The World Health Organization which gave pass to the use of RTS,S after proving effective, expects this immunization to reduce severe malaria cases by 30%; a ray of ray for families and communities which have been struggling with the disease.
The world is enduring a resilient public health enemy
Malaria has been a major public health problem in Nigeria for many years, contributing to more than 25% of global malaria incidences.
Malaria still remains a major challenge to the World health organization, despite the use of insecticide-treated nets and indoor spraying as control measures.
The use of this vaccine means the availability of the new effective means of prevention of the disease, along with the existing ones.
Malaria remains a major public health problem in Nigeria and has been a challenge to the country to control particularly in the rural areas where there is poor access to health facilities and malaria control commodities.
With the help of the vaccine program, the government wants to decrease the disease’s toll and save thousands of young people’s lives annually.
Government health workers are, however, hopeful that through vaccination, preventive treatments and constant education we shall see a decrease in the number of people who are dying from malaria.
Increasing the coverage of vaccination
The Nigerian Ministry of Health has laid down a strategic plan on how to administer the malaria vaccine in the country.
During the first phase, the program will target the regions that have the highest malaria incidence so that the children most at risk are reached.
This vaccination is actually one of the steps towards the goals of the universal Roll Back Malaria strategy and long-term goals of improving child health.
According to Business Day, the vaccination campaign has received backing from the Global Fund and the United Nations, which are offering financial and expertise.
These partnerships are very important to the success of the program especially in providing the vaccine to families in the farthest corners.
Malaria: a new chapter in the fight
I believe that this is a positive turning point in Nigeria fight against the disease that has claimed many lives in the country for years.
If continued and supported by local and international partners, the program has the capacity to revolutionize public health in Nigeria particularly for children.
As the vaccination is carried out many are hopeful that the Nigeria will begin to have low incidence of malaria deaths and incidences therefore this deadly disease is one step closer to elimination.
