Gov’t receives first consignment of over 331,000 doses of malaria vaccine.

The vaccine, also referred to as RTS, S, targets children, mainly those between zero to five years old. 

Cameroon is the first country to receive the vaccine since the end of its pilot phase carried out in Ghana, Malawi and Kenya, where over 1.7 million doses were administered to children.

Speaking shortly after the handing over ritual, Public Health Minister, Dr Manaouda Malachie, expressed government’s gratitude to the donors through the project’s lead institution, the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF. 

The member of government said the gift will go a long way to strengthening the country’s multifaceted and already robust fight to definitely overcome the havoc caused by malaria, as championed by the Head of State, President Paul Biya.

“This is a very important tool for Cameroon, which is among the many countries that are still facing challenges so far as malaria is concerned. These vaccines will add to the plethora of measures put in place by the state to combat malaria,” the minister said.

“Having these vaccines does not mean that we will stop focusing on the other measures put in place, but it will further boost those efforts made to reduce the mortality rate coming from here,” Dr Manaouda added.

According to the minister, the consignment will be distributed to 42 of Cameroon’s 203 health districts. He assured that the state will ensure the effective distribution and administering of the drugs.

Public health minister, Dr Manaouda Malachie, with officials Tuesday

This, he said, will be through effective sensitisation campaigns and several other awareness activities in all the health districts concerned, which are selected based on the rate of malaria in the areas. 

“We will have to be very disciplined in the course of the distribution and administering,” he stated. 

“The vaccination process will be done in four phases with children receiving four dosages during a period of 24 months. The state will pay special attention to sensitisation and have the vaccines given to children effectively to enable us to live in good condition,” Dr Manaouda noted. 

The minister called on all stakeholders to come on board to ensure the fresh episode of the country’s continuous fight against malaria. 

This, he said, with the goal of ensuring the country makes good use of all its human resources, void of deaths and strives for excellence as preached by the Head of State.

Minister urges partners to continue supporting Cameroon 

Besides enjoining stakeholders in the distribution and administering phase of the vaccine to give their best during the administration of the drugs, Minister Manaouda also urged partners to continue showing their kindness towards the country.

He encouraged local and foreign partners to continue providing more of such vaccines to give the nation the capacity to cover more areas across the national territory, with the goal of boosting the bid to have the entire country covered by the vaccine. 

Minister Manaouda officially receiving documents of vaccine shipment from a UNICEF representative

“Cameroon remains attentive to all the contributions that partners can make. The consignment we have received will cover 42 health districts, meaning much still needs to be done,” the minister said.

“That is why we kindly call on our partners, who are usually supporting Cameroon at the level of vaccination, to boost their efforts through the provision of more stocks to enable the government cover as many areas as possible. This is a vital step to the development of Cameroon as championed by the Head of State,” he said. 

UNICEF says Cameroon taking bold steps in anti-malaria fight

Speaking to the press after the handing over ritual of the Mosquirix vaccines, UNICEF representative, Juliette Haenni, described the delivery of the vaccines to Cameroon as a historic moment showing Cameroon’s dedication to successfully handle the health challenge caused by malaria. 

“UNICEF is very happy to work with the government of Cameroon. This is the very first vaccine delivered after its pilot phase, putting Cameroon as the first country to receive it. It is really a very historic moment. The move will go a long way to better protect children who are the most vulnerable group,” she said.

“We are here to give the government logistic support and are available to support the rest of the phase,” she added. 

The Mosquirix vaccine is expected to be rolled out in Cameroon January

About the Mosquirix vaccine scheme

The Mosquirix vaccine is delivered by a coalition of companies including GAVI. According to the United Nations, “the Vaccine Alliance is a public-private partnership that helps vaccinate half the world’s children against some of the world’s deadliest diseases”.

The vaccines are delivered through the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund, UNICEF, with the aim of fighting the spread of malaria, especially among children in Africa. 

Besides Cameroon, which is the first country to have the vaccine delivered after the pilot phase, the vaccine will be rolled out in several other African countries including Ghana, Kenya, Benin and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The rollout of the vaccine in Cameroon is expected to be done early next year, according to sources. 

Malaria is one of the deadliest diseases in the world, especially in Africa, where more than half a million children below the age of five have died as a result of the disease, according to a United Nations report.