[ad_1]
Malaria remains one of the country's main public health concerns, even with the thirteen intervention programs available to combat and eradicate it.
According to the Global Report on Malaria 2018, Ghana was among the top 20 countries with more than 300,000 malaria cases worldwide in 2017.
In addition, the country reportedly contributed 4% of the world's malaria cases in 2017, with 10.4 million suspected cases, 380,000 admissions and 1,264 deaths in 2016.
It is estimated that malaria kills 2,000 people each year in Ghana, of which about 48 per cent affect children under five. It is the main cause of hospital attendance, contributing to about 30% of admissions.
A joint study of the National Malaria Control Program and the School of Public Health of the University of Ghana revealed that companies in the country had lost about 20 million GH ¢ due to malaria in 2014 .
The country would also spend about $ 760 million a year on malaria.
It is therefore clear that the country must do more to reduce the prevalence of the disease. For this reason, Ghana has joined two other African countries; Malawi and Kenya, to lead the pilot introduction of a new malaria vaccine into routine systems.
About the vaccine
At a press conference on the malaria vaccine implementation program, Ghana Public Health Health (GHS) Director of Public Health, Dr. Badu Sakodie, explained that the RTS , also called mosquirix, is an injectable vaccine added to the existing malaria vaccine. preventive measures for children. He added that the RTS, S / AS01, had been developed to protect against P. falciparum malaria in children. He said that it is derived from part of the P. falciparum parasite, part of the surface antigen of hepatitis B (HBsAg) and 39%. an adjuvant system expressed in yeast cells.
How it works
According to Dr. Badu Sarkodie, the vaccine (RTS, S) will stimulate the body's immune system to defend against malaria. "It is designed to prevent the malaria parasite from infecting, maturing and multiplying in the liver; the usual process after which the parasite normally re-enters the bloodstream and infects the red blood cells, causing symptoms of the disease. "
Dosage, benefits and effects of RTS, S
GHS officials announced that the first malaria vaccine would be administered to children who were systematically vaccinated in four doses given at the age of six months, seven months, nine months and 24 months. The vaccine is given by injection into the child's left thigh and it is strongly recommended that each child receive all four doses for the best protection.
The vaccine has proven that it reduces the number of times a child gets malaria and reduces the risk of children contracting severe malaria, according to the Ghana Health Service.
Officials said some vaccinated children may have side effects, but they are mild. These include fever, injection-side pain, redness, and swelling at the site of the injection. The GHS has therefore advised parents to report to the nearest health facility if a child has any of these side effects or any other reaction.
Target and expected impact
The pilot implementation, to be launched on 1 May 2019 between two and a half to three years, will target 120 to 150 000 people per year, which should prevent at least 50 000 cases of malaria and approximately 750 children. saved from malaria-related deaths in districts administering the vaccine. Ghana is likely to be one of the countries that will participate in the mbadive deployment after the end of the estimated pilot project.
Areas to fly
Six regions have been selected to begin experimenting with the vaccine. The regions include the central regions of Volta (Oti and Volta) and Brong Ahafo (Bono, Bono East). The selection was based on rigorous selection criteria.
Security of RTS, S
The officials badured that the vaccine had been adequately tested and that it would not pose any danger to the children who would receive it. GHS stated that it had prepared resources and trained health personnel to monitor the project, to quickly detect any imminent danger.
The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) also said the vaccine has been tested and approved for use by children of this age. Delese Mimi Darko, CEO, said: "The Food and Drug Authority has registered the vaccine; we have actually registered it as part of a joint review process with the other two countries. It is registered for the implementation period. we have also put in place a security monitoring program, we already have a security monitoring program in place in the country and we have put in place an even more vigilant program, in which we have developed a form that will allow to monitor and be used to monitor any side effects that may occur. "
Efficiency
Children who receive the vaccine are more likely to be immunized against malaria than those who will not receive it. Dr. Anthony Nsiah Asare, General Manager of the GHS, told reporters at the press conference that nearly four out of ten children will not suffer from severe malaria during their lifetime and that about three out of ten children do not have severe malaria. Will not have the death of malaria if they are vaccinated.
"As if you gave the vaccine against other diseases, for example if you vaccinated against measles, the child would not contract measles, so we also conducted studies and realized that the effectiveness increased dramatically so that the child did not die. "he said.
Cost
Dr. Nsiah Asare warned that no one should take advantage of unsuspecting parents to scam them by selling the vaccine. He said the vaccine is free because the Government of Ghana and its partners have borne the costs and will administer them for free.
He encouraged parents to take advantage of immunization early in the campaign, on May 1, to avoid the serious consequences of malaria for their children.
Asabea Akonor
Copyright © 2019 by Creative Imaginations Advertisement
All rights reserved. This article, in whole or in part, may not be reproduced or used in any way without the express written permission of the publisher, with the exception of the use of short quotes in the comments.
Source link
