BAYELSA, Nigeria — Ominike Marvis has lost track of how many times her 6-year-old son has fallen ill with malaria. Thus, when Nigeria commenced its malaria vaccination initiative, she was eager to safeguard her youngest child.
She took her 6-month-old baby to a health center in the severely affected Bayelsa state, where the government’s vaccination effort began last week. This vaccine is intended to avert severe illnesses and fatalities caused by this mosquito-borne illness.
“At least I know he’s safe from it now,” Marvis, 31, expressed with relief.
Africa is home to the majority of the world’s malaria cases, with Nigeria, the continent’s most populous nation, shouldering the heaviest load—approximately a quarter of global cases.
A recent report from the World Health Organization revealed that last year there were an estimated 263 million malaria cases and 597,000 deaths worldwide, predominantly affecting children under 5. This represents an increase of 11 million malaria cases since 2022, while the death toll remained relatively steady.
“No one should die of malaria, yet the disease continues to disproportionately harm people living in the African region, especially young children and pregnant women,” stated WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who called for increased support towards combating the disease.
Seventeen countries are now administering new malaria vaccines to young children, according to the WHO report. Nigeria launched its vaccination campaign last week, utilizing a vaccine developed by Oxford University.
Research indicates that the vaccine is over 75% effective in preventing severe disease and deaths during the first year, with extended protection likely provided by a booster.
Nigeria’s health minister, Muhammad Ali Pate, referred to the vaccination initiative as a “monumental step” in the country’s journey to eradicate malaria.
Malaria is transmitted by a parasite through mosquito bites. Experts emphasize that supplementary measures, such as the use of bed nets and insecticide spraying, are crucial to combat the disease.
Factors contributing to Nigeria’s high malaria prevalence include its substantial population exceeding 210 million, its favorable climate for mosquitoes, poor sanitation, and a lack of resources like treated bed nets.
The World Health Organization also indicated that many countries fighting malaria struggle with insufficient funding, fragile health systems, weak monitoring, and resistance to medications and insecticides.
Nevertheless, some positive developments have been noted. Since 2015, countries in the African region have achieved a 16% reduction in malaria-related deaths. Moreover, out of the 83 countries where malaria is present, 25 now report fewer than 10 cases annually.
In the impoverished yet oil-rich Bayelsa state, one of the worst-affected areas in Nigeria, malaria is pervasive in riverside communities, and mothers relate that no family member is untouched by the disease.
“Here, malaria is something we are used to,” shared Claris Okah, a community health worker.
Among the hurdles health workers like Okah face is the vaccine hesitancy among parents. To combat this, efforts are being made to educate families about the new vaccine and additional malaria prevention measures.
“The vaccine is a good thing,” Okah stated affirmatively.
