Eberechy's blog~World Immunization Week: Malawi Mothers Benefit World First Malaria Vaccine

Malawi is one of the countries mostly affected by malaria with over 4 million cases and 7000 death recorded in 2017.

Malawi Mothers waiting for
 malaria vaccine 

On Tuesday April 23, 2019. Malawi Mothers  were seen cradling their young children gathered and formed line at a community healthcare in Mitundu as they heard that the world first malaria vaccine would be introduced this day.

A powerful programme led by  WHO, The ministers in Health in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi, The RTS,S Pilot Programme funded by Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance, The global fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and malaria, and Unitaid. While PATH and GSK are providing additional contributions, with GSK donating up to 10 million doses of the vaccine.

Following the experience of high malaria toll, one of the mothers who came for the vaccine said " my husband was diagnosed with malaria, but there was no medication available at the hospital".

"I was scared for his life. He is the breadwinner of the family, we had to borrow money to get treatment at a private clinic. When I found out about the malaria vaccine, i wanted my child to have it".

Malaria has remained a high death threat to the world in general and Africa in particular, leaving about 60 percent of children under the age of five dead annually.

While Malawi have become the first country to pilot the vaccine in its immunization programme. Dr Michael Kanyange, Deputy Director of Malaria, Ministry of Health Malawi has said.

"The next step in malaria vaccine implementation programme is to start piloting the vaccine in Kenya and Ghana the two remaining countries selected for malaria vaccine introduction".

"The pilots will take four years to complet, if there is a policy for wider use of vaccine which could come earlier. We will learn a lot to help other countries implement successful programmes in the future". Dr Kanyange said.