Ghana records 45% reduction in malaria among children under five

Ghana has seen a 45% reduction in malaria cases among children under five. This information comes from the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP).

Dr. Kezia Malm, the Programme Manager of NMEP, shared this news with the Ghana News Agency. She attributed the decline to the introduction of malaria vaccines into routine immunization. These vaccines have saved many children's lives.

Malaria is a leading cause of death in Ghana, especially among young children. The Ghana Statistical Service reported that malaria prevalence in this age group dropped from 26.7% in 2014 to 8.6% in 2022.

Children under five are particularly vulnerable to malaria-related illness and death. To address this public health crisis, NMEP implemented various control strategies, including piloting malaria vaccines for young children.

The R21/Matrix-M vaccine is the second recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) for endemic areas. Dr. Malm noted that these vaccines were deployed in 43 districts, including Upper West and Northern regions.

By the end of 2022, 1.3 million doses had been administered to children during the pilot phase. This success is promising for a new vaccine initiative.

The four-dose vaccine schedule targets children under two years old. Doses are given at six months, seven months, nine months, and eighteen months of age.

Dr. Malm emphasized that expanding vaccine access became necessary due to successful pilot results. Other countries like Kenya and Malawi have also started implementing similar programs.

Two years into piloting, malaria vaccines were included in Ghana's Expanded Programme on Immunisation across 135 districts. Coverage for the third dose reached an encouraging 80%.

Many parents are returning for their children's fourth dose at two years old. The NMEP confirmed that these vaccines effectively reduced confirmed malaria cases nationwide.

Ghana's immunization program has received support from Gavi since 2001 and achieved significant coverage improvements. As Ghana prepares to transition away from Gavi support, Dr. Malm remains hopeful about self-sufficiency by 2030.

This plan involves collaboration between the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Finance to ensure sustainability in eliminating malaria in Ghana.