The government of Ivory Coast has launched a nationwide campaign to vaccinate children against malaria, according to Xinhua Agency, citing the country's Health Minister, Pierre N'gou Dimba.
This ten-day initiative targets nearly 420,000 children between six months and one year of age in 115 medical districts across the country. The Health Minister described the campaign as a "crucial step towards the eradication of malaria in Ivory Coast by 2030."
Dimba emphasized that children under five years old remain the most vulnerable segment of the population. He highlighted an "alarming incidence rate of 920 cases per 1,000 children" reported in 2024, and warned that the malaria situation is worsening due to the increasing resistance of mosquitoes to insecticides—rising from 25% a few years ago to as much as 80% today.
He also stated that malaria continues to be one of Ivory Coast's most pressing public health challenges, with 4.43 million cases registered in 2024 alone.
As part of a broader regional effort to combat malaria, Uganda's Ministry of Health launched its own large-scale malaria vaccination campaign in April in the Apac region of northern Uganda, which has been recognized as one of the most extensive such initiatives to date.
Additional Information
Ivory Coast's malaria vaccination campaign is part of a global movement to deploy new vaccines and reduce child mortality rates. Health authorities, international organizations, and local communities are working together to strengthen disease surveillance, improve access to health care, and educate families about methods for malaria prevention and treatment. Experts believe that vaccination, when combined with the use of mosquito nets and targeted community programs, offers the best chance to drastically reduce malaria's impact in West Africa over the coming years.
Anna Bespalova
