By Janet A. Sesay
Orange Company Sierra Leone together with the Ministry of Health and Sanitation with other partners around the world commemorated World Malaria Day and officially launched the malaria vaccine in Sierra Leone, which is the first vaccine launched in Sierra Leone before other countries.
This launching ceremony took place on Thursday, 25th April, 2024, at State House on State Avenue in Freetown.
The key note speaker of this occasion was president Julius Maada Bio with ministers and parliamentarians also gracing the occasion.
During the ceremony, Dr. Jalikatu Mustapha, chairperson of the programme, said the funding of this vaccine was a co-funding between the government of Sierra Leone and Gavi, the main partner supporting vaccine immunisation programmes in Sierra Leone.
She said the government of Sierra Leone provided more than $1 million to co-finance the vaccine to ensure that we receive it.
She said that is part of the reason why the application from Sierra Leone was considered as one of the strongest applications from the regions.
Dr. Abdul Mac Falama, programme manager of the National Malaria Control Programme, in his overview of malaria and the vaccine, said the day is being marked as “World Malaria Day” and they usually come together and raise awareness on the fight against this deadly disease.
He said this day reflected on the milestones and strengthened effort towards this great fight.
He thanked the leadership of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, the National Malaria Programme staff, the District Management Team, health workers and facilities, donor partners and the leadership and government of Sierra Leone for creating a conducive environment and enabling them to fight against this deadly disease.
He said the mandate of the National Control Programme is for them to coordinate and implement all malaria related interventions like the distribution of mosquito insecticide treated nets, lungs diagnosis, provision of antimalarial therapy, and treatment of malaria cases.
He said for this to be successful they need a robust education, sensitisation and behavioural change messaging.
Mr. Sekou Amaduo Bah, Chief Executive Officer of Orange Sierra Leone, in his statement said he was honoured to be part of the launch of the national malaria vaccine.
He said malaria has affected significant communities and the health and wellbeing of the people of Sierra Leone and Africa, especially our most vulnerable infants.
He said this vaccine represents a critical step forward in the fight against this disease.
CEO Bah said they as Orange are proud to have partnered with the Ministry of Health to launch the malaria vaccine which is here to save the lives of infants from six months and above.
He furthered that Orange Sierra Leone is excited to be a key private sector partner on this project, adding that they provided information showing description on the success of this programme and that is why they have offered their resources and have service infrastructures to provide a platform for certification to disseminate information on the role out of the malaria vaccine across the nation.
He said the communication campaign will play a vital role in ensuring that everyone has access to accurate information about the vaccine and it benefits.
He continued that their future memorial foundation will cause a strong commitment to support the big fight and game changer of the government to drive into sustainable economic development and social progress.
The Orange CEO said the company understands that by investing in health they have invested in the future and therefore every year they celebrate the “World Malaria Day” to raise awareness on the malaria disease.
He said in addition Orange Mobile Company has invested in several health projects like IFAM and they have also invested in safeguarding maternity mortality by providing support to the Princess Christian Maternal Hospital (PCMH), prostate and breast cancers and skin infection across the nation.
He said they have also been partnering with Thinking Pink and have embarked on several community health projects.
The Orange Company CEO thanked president Bio and his government for bringing this new vaccine from a mere concept to a tangible reality, adding that this is a necessary milestone for the country.
He also thanked the Ministry of Health for granting them the opportunity to offer their support, adding that as a responsible company or entity they remain committed to eradicate malaria once and for all and together as a nation we can make the difference.
In his keynote address president Bio said he is filled with joy as this day marked a physical milestone in the battle against malaria. He said malaria is one of the deadliest diseases affecting our nation and children.
President Bio said he is happy that the government launched this landmark malaria vaccination for children under the age of two with excellent collaboration with international partners including Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation, the United Nations Children Forum and the World Health Organisation around the world.
He said malaria is a formidable disease claiming countless lives and ravaging communities across Sierra Leone.
President Bio said the way malaria takes on the youngest citizens is heart breaking, adding that too many families have experienced the anguish of watching children suffer from this preventable and treatable disease.
He furthered that with this day the government has turned a new page on the fight against malaria, adding that with these vaccines our children under two years of age will embark on a journey of hope and progress.
He added that he is happy that Sierra Leone will become one of the first countries to introduce the malaria vaccines in our routine immunisation programmes.
President Bio furthered that unfortunately the malaria disease remains the leading cause of morbidity and brutality in our country, adding that it is prevalent almost two times higher in rural areas which is 25.6 per cent than in other areas, which is 14.2 per cent.
He said specifically this disease accounts for 40.3 per cent of patient attendance of all ages and 37.6 per cent of hospitalised places.
President Bio said being in the tropics Sierra Leone has two malaria transmission periods; one he said is at the beginning of the rainy season and the other is towards the end of the season in October.
He said this calls for a ransom vigilant in putting malaria control measures in our households and communities.
He went on that over the last six years his government has made significant progress in instituting nationwide malaria control and prevention measures like introducing high quality free diagnosis treatment for malaria at the one thousand, five hundred (1,500) public health facilities across the country and insecticide treated bed nets distributed free of charge to children under age one during immunisation services on lactating mothers attending the antenatal clinics.
He furthered that the government will continue to conduct the end to end campaign to ensure optimum access in dealing with malaria.
President Bio added that in February 2024, government distributed 4.8 million insecticide treated bed nets nationwide for the first time using digital technology.
He said to reduce the disease burden intermodal preventive treatment is provided to pregnant woman at antenatal clinics and children during immunisation services.
He continued that they have also embarked on indoor training to moderate the high malaria disease burden, adding that these interventions have resulted in significant reduction in malaria case incidents among children under five years old.
President Bio furthered that the 2019 malaria cases came down to seven thousand, seven hundred and fifty four cases in 2023 which represents 27 perfect reductions with case incidents of malaria.
He said with the regular roll out of the malaria vaccine among children under age three they are not only going to reduce the disease but also strengthen primary health care service delivery in Sierra Leone.
He added that reducing national expenditure on malaria control means the country is destined to improve on health care service delivery and increasing overall national development.
Acting Minister of Health Professor Charles Senessie in his statement said the Ministry of Health is very ambitious in achieving their dreams, adding that one of the very innovative ways of health care delivery is a life stage model wherein they followed an individual from conception to old age.
He said life stage modelling is the patient centred approach and patient in every snap of their health care delivery remains the focus of their attention and anything that affects a child is very much crucial to their health care delivery that is why this vaccine carried out a lot of priority on their goals and they will continue to deliberately deal with it.
He said this day is an occasion that highlights the need for continued sustainable political investment and commitment to malaria prevention control, adding that on this day they came together under the theme “Accelerating the fight against malaria for a more equitable world”.
He furthered that everyone has the right quality, timely and affordable services to prevent, detect and treat malaria, adding that yet this continues to be a challenge up to today but not a reality at all.
The representative of government from the United States of America, Ambassador Bryan David Hunt in his statement said he was pleased to be part of the launching of the commemoration of World Malaria Day, adding that it is a truly exciting breakthrough for the country.
He said the malaria vaccine that is being launched will change the trajectory in the fight against this deadly disease as children are the ones who normally get attacked with malaria.
He said he is proud that the United States government and the government of Sierra Leone continue in partnership to protect people from malaria and to support healthy communities across the country.
Madam Rudolf Schwenk, UNICEF country representative, in her statement said this day marks a significant milestone in the fight against malaria, a life threatening disease that is the number one killer disease in Sierra Leone and is responsible for one million hospital visits every year.
She said 25 per cent of children under five acquire malaria and related complications such as anaemia and malnutrition.
Mr. Silver Stre Suh, country director Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), in his statement said it was a great honour for him to address people in the occasion of the commemoration of World Malaria Day adding that most importantly the official launching of the malaria vaccine in Sierra Leone.
He said as a global health organisation dedicated to saving lives and alleviating the burden of disease they are deeply committed to working with government and the private sector to strengthen the health systems and promote sustainable health systems in the country.