EXPERTS HAIL DEVELOPMENT OF MALARIA VACCINE

By Kenson McCloud 

The Malawi Health Equity Network says the breakthrough in development of Malaria vaccine is a huge milestone in the fight against the disease in the country.

This follows the World Health Organisation’s recommendation for the widespread use of the RTS, S Malaria vaccine among children in Sub-Saharan Africa and regions where there is high prevalence of Malaria transmission.

This follows a successful pilot programme in Malawi, Kenya and Ghana where eight hundred thousand children have been vaccinated since 2019.

Speaking to Timveni News Desk, executive director for the organisation George Jobe said the vaccine will significantly reduce child mortality.

Jobe called for more awareness now that the vaccine will be rolled out countrywide.

"The  government also has to allocate funds towards the purchase of the vaccine to reach out to more children in the country," said Jobe. 

Malaria remains a primary cause of childhood illness and death in Sub-Saharan Africa with more than 260,000 children under the age of five dying annually.