The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) launched a malaria vaccination campaign on October 31. This is a historic breakthrough in the fight against this disease which causes thousands of deaths each year. With nearly 25,000 deaths in 2023, the majority of which are children under the age of five, malaria remains a public health priority for the Congolese authorities.
The campaign represents an important step to protect younger generations and significantly reduce the impact of this endemic.
A scourge for the DRC and Africa
It is important to note that malaria is one of the deadliest diseases in Africa. As such, the DRC and Nigeria alone represent 40% of global cases, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In addition, the infection particularly affects children under five years old, an extremely vulnerable population, which represents between 50% and 70% of malaria-related deaths in the DRC.
An unprecedented vaccination campaign
As a result, the campaign, launched in Mbanza-Ngungu in the southwest of the country, marks the introduction of the malaria vaccine into the routine immunization program in the DRC. More precisely, this first phase of vaccination aims to protect children from the age of six months thanks to a four-dose schedule, which should prevent more than half of malaria cases during the first year following vaccination.
The vaccination strategy, hope for Congolese children
Children are at the heart of this campaign. According to the chief of staff of the Minister of Health, Romain Tshikaya, vaccination must be supplemented by strong awareness of the population. Furthermore, other preventive measures, such as the distribution of impregnated mosquito nets and vector control, continue to be deployed to strengthen the effectiveness of this fight.
International support: a fundamental pillar
International organizations, including WHO, UNICEF, Gavi and many other partners, are playing a key role in rolling out this campaign. They provide logistical support, vaccine doses and human resources to strengthen local health teams. Thanks to this coalition, the DRC received a first batch of 693,500 doses last June, which allowed this initiative to start under the best auspices.
A model for Africa in the fight against malaria
By joining the 14 other African countries that have already adopted the anti-malaria vaccine, the DRC sends a strong message: political will and international collaboration are essential to reduce malaria. In this regard, the Minister of Health, Dr Roger Kamba, emphasizes the importance of vaccination as a lever in the national strategy against malaria, a model that could inspire other countries in the region.
