New vaccine cuts malaria deaths
2007-10-18 11:21
Maputo - A new vaccine, recently developed in Mozambique, could result in the reduction of deaths among children with malaria by more than 65%.
Pedro Hait, one of the Mozambican doctors involved in the development of the vaccine, said it could bring a lasting solution to the effects of malaria on children in Africa.
The development of the vaccine began in 2002 at Mozambique's Manhiça Health Research Centre (CISM), outside Maputo. Research was funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals.
More than $300m was spent on the vaccine's development. It was made available this week.
Hait said 240 children had been vaccinated against the disease and this showed that the vaccine was effective in fighting malaria.
According to United Nations Children's Fund, more children died of malaria in Mozambique than any other disease. Malaria accounted for 60% of paediatric hospital admissions and 30% of hospital deaths.
Malaria was also deadly for pregnant women, who ran the risk of severe anaemia. In addition, malaria contracted during pregnancy could lead to low birth weight.
- SAPA