This archive report was first published on 5 October 2019.
Kenya has made significant progress in the fight against malaria, with a reduction in prevalence from 13 to 8 per cent in children under five years over the last decade.
However, malaria remains a leading killer of children under five, with an incidence of up to 27 per cent in the lake region where the condition is endemic.
According to the Ministry of Health, the disease caused an estimated 3.5 million infections and over 10,000 deaths in Kenya in 2016.
To further reduce the disease burden, the government has unveiled a phased introduction of the first malaria vaccine, which is a major milestone in the fight against the disease.
The vaccine offers an additional way to protect young children from malaria and will form part of the package of recommended malaria prevention measures.
When used with existing measures, such as insecticide-treated mosquito nets, the vaccine has the potential to save thousands of young lives.
Kenya has now joined Malawi and Ghana as the third African nation to introduce the malaria vaccine, an affirmation of the government's commitment towards control, elimination, and eradication of communicable diseases.
The vaccine is being rolled out in a phased approach and will be implemented in eight counties with the highest malaria burden, including Kakamega, Vihiga, Bungoma, Busia, Kisumu, Homa Bay, Migori, and Siaya.
Selected sub-counties in these counties will have the opportunity to initially introduce the vaccine, with four doses given to children in month six, seven, nine, and 24.
The government is offering the vaccine, which has been approved as safe and effective, free of charge in all health facilities.
Clinical trials have shown that when used alongside other recommended malaria interventions, fewer incidents of malaria in children and less hospital admissions will be experienced.
The vaccine can prevent four out of 10 infections and prevent severe malaria by more than 30 per cent in the six-24 months age group.
As Kenya moves to scale up universal health coverage, immunisation is a key pillar of disease control, and the introduction of the malaria vaccine falls under the key portfolio of public health services that will drive the achievement of UHC.
The Ministry of Health remains resolute in its commitment to control, eliminate, and eradicate vaccine preventable diseases, and will continue to aid the procurement, warehousing, and distribution of all childhood vaccines to regional depots.
At the introduction of the malaria vaccine, the Health Cabinet Secretary handed over a four-wheel drive vehicle, a motorbike, and cold chain equipment to Homa Bay County, valued at Sh68 million.
These will facilitate the scale up of immunisation, service delivery, and malaria vaccine introduction in the county.
The writer is the Health Cabinet Secretary.
