Ghana has recorded a 45% reduction in malaria cases among children under five, according to the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP).
Dr. Kezia Malm, Programme Manager at the NMEP, told the Ghana News Agency that the significant decline was largely due to the integration of malaria vaccines into the country’s routine immunisation programme, an intervention that has saved the lives of many children.
Malaria remains one of the leading causes of death in Ghana, disproportionately affecting children under five. According to data from the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), the prevalence of malaria among this age group dropped from 26.7% in 2014 to 8.6% in 2022, a decrease of more than a third.
This age group continues to bear the highest burden of malaria-related illness and death. In response, the NMEP implemented a range of control strategies, including the piloting of malaria vaccines specifically targeting children under five.
The country made a significant advancement in its fight against malaria by rolling out the vaccines, beginning with a pilot programme aimed at reducing severe cases.
The R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine, the second vaccine recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for use in malaria-endemic regions, was introduced as part of this initiative.
Dr. Malm explained that the vaccines were initially deployed in 43 malaria-endemic districts, including areas in the Upper West, Northern, Savannah, and Western North regions.
By the end of 2022, 1.3 million doses had been administered, a notable achievement for a newly piloted vaccine. The four-dose vaccine schedule is designed for children under two years of age and is administered at six months, seven months, nine months, and 18 months.
Due to the success of the pilot phase, the vaccine was expanded into additional districts and incorporated into the national routine immunisation programme.
“Due to the success of the vaccines in Ghana, other countries, including Kenya and Malawi, also began their implementation,” Dr. Malm added.
She noted that two years into the pilot, the Expanded Programme on Immunisation officially adopted the malaria vaccine as part of routine immunisation, now reaching children in 135 districts nationwide.
“So far, so good. We are seeing 80 per cent coverage for the third dose. And that’s encouraging. We have been able to get a considerable number of people to come back for the fourth dose, which is happening in the second year of life,” she said.
According to the NMEP, the vaccine has proven to be effective alongside other malaria control interventions, contributing significantly to the reduction in confirmed malaria cases.
Since 2001, Ghana’s immunisation programme has benefited from support by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, helping to achieve strong national coverage.
Looking ahead, Dr. Malm expressed optimism about Ghana’s preparedness to sustain its immunisation efforts as the country transitions away from Gavi support.
“That plan is being led by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance to make sure that we’re able to follow the roadmap to be able to be self-sufficient by 2030,” she said.