For more than 100 years scientists have been trying to create a malaria vaccine. In a historic announcement the World Health Organisation announced the approval of the world’s first vaccine. This move will help end this preventable and treatable disease that causes hundreds of millions of infections each year, risking lives and livelihoods.
Zero Malaria champion, Bello Abdul Hakeem Bolaji who works in Artificial Intelligence said, "it's game-changing news…when I first heard, it was so exciting. Technology defines the modern world and solutions like vaccines have saved the world before from polio, measles and even Covid-19."
"it's game-changing news"
Bello Abdul Hakeem Bolaji, Nigeria
Zero Malaria champion, Ndifanji Namacha, who is a doctor in Malawi said, "I don't know how to express my excitement…from a young age, we thought malaria wasn't preventable. You grow up and hear your classmates can't come to school because they are sick."
Now the vaccine, known RTS,S, has been approved it can be rolled out across Africa, preventing thousands of lives. Combined with other malaria fighting tools - such as next-generation insecticide-treated nets, preventative drugs – this will be a gamechanger to end malaria within a generation.