Nigeria Takes Fight Against Malaria Higher With Vaccine Introduction
Princess-Ekwi Ajide
Malaria remains a leading public health challenge in Nigeria, accounting for 23% of global malaria cases and 27% of malaria-related deaths worldwide.
The disease disproportionately affects children under the age of five and pregnant women, leading to severe illness, cognitive impairments, and high mortality rates.
The economic burden is equally staggering, with millions lost annually in productivity and healthcare costs.
It is against this backdrop, that the Federal Government of Nigeria is taking giant strides in the fight against this health menace with the introduction of a malaria vaccine into Nigeria’s routine immunisation to assist in the promotion of antibodies for five to eleven month old babies with four doses to be taken at the interval of two months.
At an engagement meeting in Abuja to introduce this vaccine to be rolled out before the end of this year, to EPI and Non-EPI stakeholders, the Federal Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), and partners, underscored the urgency of addressing malaria’s alarming prevalence in the country.
Experts at the meeting including Senior Vaccine Analyst at the Clinton Health Access Initiative, Zainab Yusuf; Director Advocacy and Communication, NPHCDA, Dr. Ladan Aliyu; Social Behavioural Change Technical Adviser, Olukemi Adeyoju, among others provided valuable insights into the new malaria vaccine, highlighting its purpose, eligibility criteria, and phase rollout.
They described the malaria vaccine as a game-changer in reducing the disease’s impact.
The vaccine works by priming the immune system to fight off malaria parasites, thereby preventing severe illness.
According to the rollout plan, the vaccine will target children under two in Bayelsa and Kebbi States since they are the areas with the highest malaria prevalence before expanding nationwide in the second and third phases.
The second phase will cover nineteen states and the FCT while the third and last phase will cover fifteen states of the Federation.
The vaccine, hailed as a groundbreaking advancement, is specifically designed to protect young children, who are most vulnerable to the devastating effects of malaria and represents hope for millions of Nigerian families who have suffered the loss of loved ones to malaria.
The vaccine according to experts is not a stand alone but complements existing interventions such as insecticide-treated nets and antimalarial medications, forming a holistic approach to eradication.
The meeting highlighted the need for community awareness and active participation in the vaccine’s rollout hence it assigned roles to stakeholders with the mandate to dispel myths and misinformation about vaccines, encourage parents to ensure their children receive the life-saving intervention.
As Nigeria begins this historic rollout, the success of the malaria vaccine will rely on collaboration between government agencies, health professionals, communities and the media hence all hands must be on deck to ensure effective implementation, which will in turn, yield the desired fruit of making the vaccine a turning point in Nigeria’s fight against malaria, offering protection, hope, and a healthier future for generations to come.
The introduction of the malaria vaccine is not just a health milestone; it is a clarion call on all Nigerians to join hands in eradicating malaria, ensuring that no child suffers or dies needlessly from this preventable disease.
