Nigeria is set to receive its first shipment of malaria vaccines on Thursday, a major step forward in the fight against one of the country’s deadliest diseases.
The National Primary Health Care Development Agency confirmed that the vaccines would arrive in Abuja, where they will be received by Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare.
The News Agency of Nigeria reported that the vaccines are part of a World Health Organization initiative to distribute malaria vaccines to African countries heavily impacted by the disease, including Nigeria.
According to the NPHCDA, if everything goes as planned, the vaccines will be officially unveiled on Thursday. These vaccines are expected to provide critical protection for children, who are among the most vulnerable to malaria.
NAN reports that the RTS, S/AS01 (Mosquirix) vaccines, which have proven effective in reducing malaria cases and deaths among children, will be introduced in high-burden areas first before expanding nationwide. This targeted approach aims to prioritize regions where access to healthcare is limited, particularly rural areas.
Nigeria is the third African country to introduce the vaccine, following Ghana and Kenya, which began using it in 2023.
Malaria continues to be a serious health issue in Nigeria, with 97 percent of the population at risk. The disease is responsible for 27 percent of global malaria cases and 31 percent of malaria deaths worldwide, making Nigeria the country with the highest malaria burden.
Efforts to fight malaria, such as switching to injectable treatments for severe cases and increasing preventive care for pregnant women, have been ongoing. However, challenges like limited access to healthcare still pose obstacles.
Public health experts are hopeful that the introduction of the malaria vaccine will save many lives and bring Nigeria closer to reducing malaria prevalence and deaths significantly.
Health experts believe that combining the vaccine with other preventive measures will greatly reduce malaria cases and bring the country closer to achieving the goal of a malaria-free Africa.
