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WHO Confirms That Three West African Countries Introduce Malaria Vaccine—-The World Health Organisation (WHO) says the Republic of Benin, Liberia and Sierra Leone have launched a large-scale rollout of the life-saving malaria vaccine targeting millions of children across the three West African nations.

WHO said this in a statement as the world celebrates the  17th World Malaria Day  with theme: “Advancing health equity, gender equality and human rights,”.

The world health body said that the vaccine rollout, announced on World Malaria Day, seeks to further scale up vaccine deployment in the African region.

“Today’s launch brings to eight the number of countries on the continent to offer the malaria vaccine as part of the childhood immunisation programmes, extending access to more comprehensive malaria prevention.

“Several of the more than 30 countries in the African region that have expressed interest in the vaccine are scheduled to roll it out in the 2025 .

“This is through support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, as efforts continue to widen its deployment in the region in coordination with other prevention measures such as long-lasting insecticidal nets and seasonal malaria chemoprevention,” it said.

According to it, Benin, which received 215,900 doses, has added the malaria vaccine to its Expanded Programme on Immunisation.

It said that the  malaria vaccine should be provided in a schedule of four doses in children from around five months of age.

“The introduction of the malaria vaccine in the Expanded Programme on Immunization for our children is a major step forward in the fight against this scourge.

Prof Benjamin Hounkpatin, Minister of Health,  Benin   reassure that the malaria vaccines are safe and effective and contribute to the protection of the children against the serious and fatal diseases.

Hounkpatin said that  in Liberia, the vaccine was launched in the southern Rivercess County and would be rolled out afterwards in five other counties which have high malaria burden.

” At least 45 000 children are expected to benefit from the 112 000 doses of the available vaccine,”  he said.

Also, Dr Louise Kpoto, Liberia’s Minister of Health said  for far too long, malaria has stolen the laughter and dreams of their children.

“But today, with this vaccine and the unwavering commitment of our communities, healthcare workers and our partners, including GAVI, UNICEF and WHO, we break the chain.

“We have a powerful tool that will protect them from this devastating illness and related deaths, ensuring their right to health and a brighter future.

“Let’s end malaria in Liberia and pave the way for a healthier, more just society,”  Kpoto said.

According to her , two safe and effective vaccines  RTS,S and R21  recommended by WHO , are  a breakthrough for child health and malaria control.

She said that a pilot malaria vaccine programme in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi reached over two million children from 2019 to 2023.

According to her ,such shows a significant reduction in malaria illness and a 13 per cent drop in overall child mortality and substantial reductions in hospitalisations.

Again, Dr Austin Demby, Minister of Health of Sierra Leone  said that in   Sierra Leone, the first doses were administered to children at a health centre in Western Area Rural where the authorities kicked off the rollout of 550 000 vaccine doses.

“The vaccine will then be delivered in health facilities nationwide.

“With the new, safe and efficacious malaria vaccine, we now have an additional tool to fight this disease. In combination with insecticide-treated nets, effective diagnosis and treatment, and indoor spraying, no child should die from malaria infection,”   Demby  said

According to him, malaria remains a huge health challenge in the African region, which is home to 11 countries that carry approximately 70 per cent of the global burden of malaria.

“The region accounted for 94% of global malaria cases and 95% of all malaria deaths in 2022, according to the World Malaria Report 2023,” he said.

Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa said that African region was advancing in the rollout of the malaria vaccine ,  a game-changer in the fight against the deadly disease.

“Working with our member states and partners, we’re supporting the ongoing efforts to save the lives of young children and lower the malaria burden in the region,” she said.

Ms Aurelia Nguyen, Chief Programme Officer at Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance,  says “Today we celebrate more children gaining access to a new lifesaving tool to fight one of Africa’s deadliest diseases.

“This introduction of malaria vaccines into routine programmes in Benin, Liberia, and Sierra Leone alongside other proven interventions will help save lives and offer relief to families, communities and hard-pressed health systems,” she said.

Nguyen  said that progress against malaria has stalled in these high-burden African countries since 2017 due to factors including climate change, humanitarian crises, low access to and insufficient quality of health services, gender-related barriers, biological threats such as insecticide and drug resistance and global economic crises.

She said that other are fragile health systems and critical gaps in data and surveillance have compounded the challenge.

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Lassa Fever Cases On The Rise As Nigeria Enters 41st Week of 2024

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Lassa Fever

Lassa Fever Cases On The Rise As Nigeria Enters 41st Week of 2024—-The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported a concerning increase in Lassa fever cases as Nigeria navigates epidemiological week 41 of 2024.

In week 41, there were 10 new confirmed cases reported, compared to just seven in the previous week.

The NCDC said this in its latest Lassa Fever Situation Report, published on its official website.

The Public Health agency said that the new cases had been recorded across Ondo, Edo, Benue, and Taraba states, highlighting a worrying trend as the nation grapples with the virus.

Cumulatively, the agency said that there had been 174 reported deaths this year, resulting in a case fatality rate (CFR) of 16.8 per cent.

It said that this was slightly lower than the 17.2 per cent CFR reported during the same period in 2023.

“The total number of confirmed cases has now risen to 8,569 across 28 states and 129 local government areas.

“Notably, 68 per cent of all confirmed Lassa fever cases in 2024 have originated from three states: Ondo 28 per cent, Edo 23 per cent and Bauchi 17 per cent.

“The predominant age group affected is between 31 to 40 years, and there is an equal gender distribution among confirmed cases, with a male-to-female ratio of 1:1.,” it said.

The NCDC, however, said that no new healthcare workers were reported to be affected during week 41, reflecting ongoing efforts to safeguard medical personnel amidst the outbreak.

It said that the National Lassa Fever Multi-Partner, Multi-Sectoral Technical Working Group continued to coordinate response activities, focusing on robust contact tracing and community engagement.

According to the NCDC, the challenges remain, including inadequate funding for preparedness activities and poor health-seeking behaviour in affected communities due to the high costs associated with treatment.

It said that environmental sanitation conditions in high-burden areas also required urgent attention to mitigate the spread of the virus.

“Efforts are underway to improve public awareness and readiness through various initiatives, including risk communication strategies, training sessions for healthcare providers, and ongoing community engagement campaigns,” it said.

As the outbreak continues, stakeholders underlined the importance of timely reporting and seeking medical care to reduce the impact of Lassa fever across the nation.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that Lassa fever has been identified by the World Health Organisation as a pathogen with high potential for severe outbreaks.

It poses a growing threat as climate change puts an estimated 700 million people at risk.

Symptoms of the disease include fever, headache, muscle pain, and in severe cases, facial swelling and bleeding. Survivors often suffer from long-term complications such as deafness.

As Nigeria battles the Lassa fever outbreak, public health experts said that concerted efforts are required from both the government and the general public to avert further loss of lives.

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JUST IN: Popular Gospel Artiste Dare Melody Loses Wife

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Dare Melody

JUST IN: Popular Gospel Artiste Dare Melody Loses Wife—-Adedoyin Odunuga, the beloved wife of renowned gospel artiste Dare Melody, has passed away.

TCN reports that the heartbreaking news was confirmed by Dare Melody’s management through an official statement.

The statement reads: “DM Multimedia Mourns The Demise Of The Wife Of The Chairman (Evang. Dare Melody)
“It is with deep sadness and heavy hearts that we inform you of the transition to eternal rest of our beloved mother, wife, sister, and friend (Mrs. ADEDOYIN ODUNUGA, NEE: ODAGI), who passed away early morning today 24th of October 2024. R.I.P. You Will Forever Be In Our Hearts.”

In the wake of this tragic news, fans have taken to social media to offer condolences to the bereaved gospel artiste. Numerous messages of support have flooded in.

“Deeply saddened by this loss. May her soul rest in peace,” a fan identified as Sunny Marvelous stated.

Michael Olayinka said: “My heartfelt condolences, Sir. May her soul rest in peace.”

Another fan, Hayegbusi Toyin Odukoya wrote: “What a tremendous loss. May her gentle soul rest in peace.”

A Life Built on Love and Devotion

Dare Melody and Adedoyin shared a beautiful marriage spanning many years, blessed with three precious children. Their union was marked by unwavering commitment and devotion.

In 2015, Dare Melody fervently debunked allegations of infidelity, reaffirming his dedication to his wife, saying “I will never sacrifice my paradise for a five-minute enjoyment outside my marriage.”

In 2023, Dare Melody presented Adedoyin with a stunning new home in celebration of her 45th birthday, a poignant gesture underscoring the depth of their love.

As the family navigates this difficult period, they find solace in the outpouring of support and the cherished memories of Adedoyin’s life.

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