PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
New vaccines to avert 50,000 child deaths in Kenya
Nairobi, Kenya (PANA) - Kenyan health officials Tuesday welcomed the launch of vaccines to protect children in Africa from diarrhea and pneumonia, which would be introduced in 16 more poor countries as a major step towards protecting children.
“Malaria, pneumonia and diarrhea are the three leading killers of children. They constitute the death of 50,000 children in Kenya,” said Dr. Willis Akwale, Head, Disease Prevention Unit, at the Kenyan health ministry.
He said the launch of the new vaccines was a critical step but that the mass rollout of the vaccinations would not be immediate and might wait a reduction in the cost of the vaccines.
The Global Vaccine Initiative (GAVI) Alliance announced Tuesday it would provide funding for 16 more developing countries to introduce rotavirus vaccines and introduce pneumococcal vaccines to another 18 countries.
Kenya is the first country in the world to use the new vaccines against pneumonia. But health officials say the cost of vaccination is still higher above the normal incomes of most Kenyans, at Ksh500.
“We are still hoping that they would announce a reduction in the cost of the vaccine, if that happens, we could begin a vaccine rollout in Africa,” Akhwale said.
GAVI said the introduction of the two vaccines was a major step towards protecting the children against severe diarrhea.
The rollout of the rotavirus vaccines across the African continent has already begun in Sudan and the announcement confirms funding for 12 more African countries to follow suit.
“Thanks to our donors and partners, the Alliance is now delivering on its promise to protect more children across the developing world against rotavirus, pneumococcal disease and other life-threatening yet preventable diseases,” said GAVI Chief Executive Seth Berkley.
“The death toll of rotavirus and pneumococcal infections in Africa is particularly devastating and this is where these vaccines will make the most significant impact, not only in lives saved, but also in terms of the healthy lives lived,” Berkley added.
-0- PANA AO/VAO 28Sept2011
“Malaria, pneumonia and diarrhea are the three leading killers of children. They constitute the death of 50,000 children in Kenya,” said Dr. Willis Akwale, Head, Disease Prevention Unit, at the Kenyan health ministry.
He said the launch of the new vaccines was a critical step but that the mass rollout of the vaccinations would not be immediate and might wait a reduction in the cost of the vaccines.
The Global Vaccine Initiative (GAVI) Alliance announced Tuesday it would provide funding for 16 more developing countries to introduce rotavirus vaccines and introduce pneumococcal vaccines to another 18 countries.
Kenya is the first country in the world to use the new vaccines against pneumonia. But health officials say the cost of vaccination is still higher above the normal incomes of most Kenyans, at Ksh500.
“We are still hoping that they would announce a reduction in the cost of the vaccine, if that happens, we could begin a vaccine rollout in Africa,” Akhwale said.
GAVI said the introduction of the two vaccines was a major step towards protecting the children against severe diarrhea.
The rollout of the rotavirus vaccines across the African continent has already begun in Sudan and the announcement confirms funding for 12 more African countries to follow suit.
“Thanks to our donors and partners, the Alliance is now delivering on its promise to protect more children across the developing world against rotavirus, pneumococcal disease and other life-threatening yet preventable diseases,” said GAVI Chief Executive Seth Berkley.
“The death toll of rotavirus and pneumococcal infections in Africa is particularly devastating and this is where these vaccines will make the most significant impact, not only in lives saved, but also in terms of the healthy lives lived,” Berkley added.
-0- PANA AO/VAO 28Sept2011
