Malawian authorities have launched a malaria vaccination campaign that is the first of its kind in the world, the World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed, saying it «gives a glimmer of hope» to the country.
«Malawi has expanded access to the first malaria vaccine,» the agency’s Malawi office said, specifying that this project follows an initial period of implementation in 11 districts of the African country.
It explained on its Twitter account that «the expansion of access to the first malaria vaccine will allow thousands of children at risk of falling ill or dying to benefit from an additional malaria prevention tool».
Neema Kimambo, head of the WHO in Malawi, applauded the launch of the campaign and stressed that «it is an important milestone» that comes in the midst of the work to «end malaria in Malawi and provide health care for all».
The African country’s health authorities are using the only malaria vaccine recommended by WHO, known as RTS,S, which has been tested in Malawi, Ghana and Kenya over the past few years.
Malaria, also known as malaria, is a potentially fatal disease caused by parasites transmitted to humans by the bite of infected female anopheles mosquitoes, according to the WHO website.
On the other hand, Malawi launched on Monday a vaccination campaign against cholera with the aim of immunizing 2.9 million people living in thirteen districts affected by the outbreak, which has so far left more than 6,200 cases and about 190 dead.
Cholera is an acute diarrheal disease caused by ingestion of food or water contaminated with the ‘vibrio cholerae bacillus’, according to WHO, which emphasizes that «cholera remains a global threat to public health and an indicator of inequity and lack of social development».
