As nations celebrate World Malaria Day (WMD) today, Nigeria and other African countries worse hit by the disease may get more relief and inch near the global zero malaria target with mass deployment of malaria vaccine by October this year. There is potential for the recommendation for the vaccine to be used routinely across Africa to end malaria.”The theme of this year’s World Malaria Day is ‘Reaching the zero malaria target.’ In Nigeria, the adopted slogan for World Malaria Day 2021 is ‘Stand up and Take Action.’ACCORDING to the World Health Organisation (WHO), RTS,S/AS01 (RTS,S) is the first and, to date, the only vaccine to show that it can significantly reduce malaria and life-threatening severe malaria in young African children. National Coordinator, National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP), Dr. Perpetua Uhomoibhi, at the second installment of the ‘Combat Malaria in Africa’ virtual discussion, also acknowledged the growing cases of insecticide and malaria drug resistance in Nigeria. Together, they have shown the world that malaria elimination is a viable goal for all countries. Director of the WHO Global Malaria Programme, Dr. Pedro Alonso, said: Success is driven, first and foremost, by political commitment within a malaria-endemic country to end the disease.

Source: The Guardian April 25, 2021 04:07 UTC