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(Agence Ecofin) – This week in African health news: Benin has received a first batch of more than 200,000 doses of malaria vaccines, and the Democratic Republic of Congo plans to follow the same path. WHO is launching an urgent appeal to raise $1.5 billion to address the region’s health crises this year.
Benin will receive more than 200,000 doses of malaria vaccines
Benin has just received 215,900 doses of the RTS,S malaria vaccine, becoming the third country in the African region to test this solution on a large scale since its approval. “ The arrival of the first 215,900 malaria vaccine doses in Benin is an important step towards more widespread vaccination against one of the deadliest diseases for African children said Beninese Health Minister Benjamin Hounkpatin as he received vaccinations against malaria at Cardinal Bernardin Gantin International Airport on January 15.
Also read: Malaria vaccine delivery to Africa begins: weekly health update
Benin joins Cameroon and Sierra Leone and should begin administering the vaccine to children under two in the coming months. This progress is considered essential in the fight against malaria in Benin and Africa. This includes combining vaccination with other prevention measures such as the use of impregnated mosquito nets, long-acting insecticides, indoor spraying, intermittent preventive treatment of pregnant women and access to antimalarial drugs to significantly reduce the number of malaria-related deaths.
The Democratic Republic of Congo intends to follow this example
Further south, in the central region, the Democratic Republic of Congo is preparing to use the vaccine again this year. According to information from the Congolese Press Agency, the government of Étienne Tshisekedi plans to introduce the anti-malaria vaccine for young children in 2024 to combat malaria.
« The Congolese government plans to include the infant and child malaria vaccine in the anti-malaria intervention package later this year “, explained Dr. Serge Emmanuel Hollen, Deputy Minister of Health.
Remember that according to the United Nations, a child under five dies of malaria every two minutes. In 2021, malaria affected 247 million people worldwide and caused 619,000 deaths, the majority (77%) in children under 5 years of age, and mainly in Africa.
The WHO is targeting $1.5 billion this year to address health crises
Africa will be particularly affected by the 41 health crises related to climate change, extreme weather events, food insecurity, conflict and displacement that the WHO expects this year.
The UN agency made these projections while also calling for $1.5 billion to address these challenges in Africa this year.
WHO calls for $1.5 billion in funding to address health crises https://t.co/QPaEr6Csb8
– The Globe and Mail (@globeandmail) January 15, 2024
Specifically, the most affected regions include northern Ethiopia, plagued by the effects of civil war and drought, and the Horn of Africa, which includes parts of several countries and faces food insecurity and major problems exacerbated by the climate crisis and conflict is malnutrition and cholera.
“For people facing emergencies, disruptions to essential health services often mean the difference between life and death. From mothers giving birth during conflict, to helping young people and children in drought-affected areas, to people receiving cancer treatment or dialysis, healthcare saves lives. Health.” Services are also important to break the cycle that too often leaves communities in a dangerous state and in need of new emergency assistance.”said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the WHO.
According to the Geneva headquarters, the funds raised under this emergency appeal will be used primarily for preparation and availability to enable a rapid and effective response to disasters. Specifically, these funds will go to the African region (US$334 million), the Eastern Mediterranean region (US$705 million), the European region (US$183 million), and the Western Pacific region (US$15.2 million). ) and the Southeast Asia region ($49 million). and the Americas region ($131 million). However, widespread underfunding in the humanitarian sector puts this initiative at risk.
The difficult cholera situation in eastern and southern Africa
While health authorities have reported a massive cholera epidemic in 13 countries in eastern and southern Africa since last year (one of the worst in recent years), the region has recorded more than 200,000 cholera cases and more than 3,000 deaths since the beginning of the year connection with this disease. Zambia and Zimbabwe are particularly affected.
We can build all the climate-resilient WASH infrastructure we want, but cholera will still be here until we change people’s mindsets. Drains are blocked, people shit everywhere, food is sold everywhere and the local government is just sitting in its offices pic.twitter.com/0g55KRgaJf
– This Lunda guy (@mupuchi) January 17, 2024
In Zambia, more than 9,500 people have been affected since the first case was reported in October 2023, with more than 400 deaths and 10,000 infected, with a high mortality rate of 3.9%. Nine of the country’s 10 provinces now report cases of cholera, and nearly 52% of all cases involve children under 15 years old.
In Zimbabwe, more than 18,000 cases have been reported in all 10 provinces since the outbreak began in February last year, with 71 confirmed deaths and more than 300 suspected deaths. Harare and Manicaland provinces are the worst affected, and one in six Zimbabwean children affected by cholera is under five years old.
Also read: 13 countries affected by cholera, Marburg in Equatorial Guinea remains stable: weekly health update in Africa
…and in Nigeria
In West Africa, Nigeria has just reported confirmed cases of the infectious disease in several areas, including Biase and Obubra local government areas of Cross River State. According to Health Commissioner Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk, the outbreak is fueled by unclean water sources and uncovered fruits. To address the situation, a response committee was formed and an emergency operations center activated with the support of the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC).
Measles in two other states
In another development, three cases of measles were recorded in Umunneochi and Arochukwu Local Government Areas of Abia State, also Nigeria. Although these cases occurred in the northern part of the state, the two local government councils do not border each other. Authorities are investigating to identify the affected children and determine when the illness began.
Ayi Renaud Dossavi
Also read:
Cape Verde wins a decisive victory against malaria: the weekly health update in Africa
400 births through in vitro fertilization in Cameroon: weekly health update in Africa
In 20 years, life expectancy in Namibia has increased by 12 years: the weekly health update in Africa.
Blood donations in Ivory Coast, dengue fever in Nigeria and Burkina Faso: weekly health update in Africa
Senegal and the WHO open a regional health emergency center: the weekly health update in Africa
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