Nayala: Local actors committed to malaria vaccination. The Toma Public Reading and Cultural Activities Center (CELPAC) hosted an advocacy workshop on Thursday for the introduction of the malaria vaccine in the health district. The meeting, chaired by the Secretary General of Nayala Province, representing the High Commissioner, brought together local authorities, health workers, and community leaders to mobilize them to succeed in this new step in the fight against malaria.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the Secretary General of the province, Adama Diallo, praised the efforts made by health workers to ensure the continuity of public service despite security difficulties and recalled the scale of the challenge. "In 2024, more than 10.8 million cases of malaria were recorded in health facilities in Burkina Faso, resulting in 3,523 deaths. Children under five remain the most affected, representing nearly 30% of cases and more than 60% of deaths," he stressed.
Faced with this alarming situation, the Ministry of Health and Public Hygiene has decided to strengthen its strategies. Starting in February 2024, the RTS,S/AS01 vaccine was introduced into the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) in 27 priority districts spread across seven regions. The World Health Organization (WHO) also recommends the use of the R21/Matrix-M vaccine, which represents a historic step forward in the fight against this disease.
During the workshop, the head of vaccination prevention, Samate Tiere, explained that malaria is a serious infectious disease caused by the parasite Plasmodium falciparum, transmitted by the bite of infested female Anopheles mosquitoes. He recalled that the disease, although curable, can lead to death within 24 hours if left untreated. Children under five and pregnant women are the most vulnerable.
According to Mr. Samate Tiere, the success of the vaccine's introduction depends on the commitment of authorities, associations, media, and health workers. He emphasized the importance of dispelling fears and rumors surrounding vaccination and of disseminating clear messages in places of worship and within communities. Since the launch on August 24, nearly 602 children have already been vaccinated in the district.
The head of monitoring and evaluation, Dr. Sanfo Sadou, for his part, presented the epidemiological situation of the Toma health district, which has 37 health facilities and is facing constraints linked to the security context, lack of personnel and insufficient logistical resources. The district chief physician, Dr. Sissao Arouna, urged women in Nayala to regularly attend health facilities to protect the lives of their children.
For the District Health Management Team (DHM), the arrival of this vaccine represents a significant turning point. It reinforces other existing prevention methods, in a context where malaria remains the leading cause of consultation and death among children under five. The vaccination schedule provides four doses for children aged 5 to 23 months, administered at 5, 6, 7 and 15 months.
The introduction of the malaria vaccine in Nayala marks a decisive step in the fight against a disease that continues to wreak havoc. Participants pledged to spread the word to communities so that every affected child benefits from this additional protection.