By Kemo Cham
Sierra Leone government on Saturday took stock of the first shipment of the world’s first Malaria vaccine.
Sierra Leone is among nine countries announced in July as recipients of the world’s first World Health organization (WHO) approved malaria vaccine.
The shipment is the result of a partnership between the government, WHO, Unicef and the vaccine alliance, GAVI,
Minister of Health Dr Austin Demby, alongside the leadership of WHO Sierra Leone and UNICEF Sierra Leone received the shipment at the Freetown International Airport in Lungi, where he urged health authorities to make the best use of the lifesaving commodity he said had come at a huge cost for both the government and its donors.
The consignment comprises 550, 000 doses of the RTS,S vaccines, which were procured by Unicef, the UN agency responsible for children.
The WHO in a post on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, described the shipment as a “landmark milestone” to Sierra Leone’s fight against the parasitic disease that accounts for the largest number of deaths among children in a country with one of the highest rates of infant mortality.
“This will enable vaccination of all against one of the deadliest diseases in Africa,” it said.
WHO figures show that Malaria burden accounts for over 200 million cases globally, with over 600, 000 deaths, annually. Much of the cases and deaths are recorded in the developing world, especially Africa which has the highest burden of the disease.
In Sierra Leone, over two million people visit hospital every year, according to WHO and government data.
“With the arrival of the vaccine, along with other preventive measures like the use of ITNs [Insecticide Treated Bed Nets] and malaria testing, the country will significantly reduce the number of hospital visits, admissions and deaths,” the statement adds.
Dr Demby said while the country needs more than the quantity of the vaccines presented, it intends to ensure that this first batch is made best use of.
“We will make sure we have the impact that we desire with these vaccines,” he said.
“The government of Sierra Leone paid a substantial amount of money for these vaccines as well. So we are partners in this. And it’s all done on your behalf. You role now is to ensure that we put these vaccines where they belong – in babies arms, in women’s arms, so that we can reduce maternal mortality, infant mortality and remove the scourge of malaria,” he added.
