Nigeria, first country to launch historic Meningitis vaccine campaign- WHO
By Innocent Raphael
Nigeria has made global headlines by initiating the rollout of Men5CV, a new vaccine endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO) to combat meningitis.
WHO in a statement on Friday, lauded Nigeria’s pioneering effort, highlighting the vaccine’s efficacy against five strains of Meningococcus bacteria.
The health organization identified Nigeria as one of the 26 hyper-endemic countries for meningitis in Africa, located within the African Meningitis Belt.
It also disclosed that 2023 saw a staggering 50% surge in reported annual meningitis cases across the continent.
According to WHO, Nigeria faced a severe outbreak of Neisseria meningitidis (meningococcus) serogroup C during this period, resulting in 1,742 suspected cases of meningitis.
Among them, 101 cases were confirmed, with a tragic toll of 153 lives lost across seven Nigerian states: Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Jigawa, Katsina, Yobe, and Zamfara, between October 2023 and March 2024.
However, in more appealing developments, funded by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the campaign aims to immunize one million individuals, particularly in regions hit hard by meningitis outbreaks.
The health organization also noted Nigeria’s significance in this endeavor stems from its location within the African Meningitis Belt, where meningitis is endemic.
Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, emphasized the transformative potential of the vaccine in curbing meningitis’s deadly toll, stating that the Men5CV offers broader protection compared to existing vaccines, targeting multiple strains responsible for the disease’s spread.
In his response, Nigeria’s Health Minister, Prof. Muhammad Pate, underscored the vaccine’s role in quelling outbreaks and advancing the nation towards meningitis elimination.
He added that the collaborative effort behind the vaccine’s development highlights the importance of international partnerships in addressing global health challenges.
According to the statement, the campaign’s launch signals a crucial step in achieving WHO’s goal of eradicating meningitis by 2030.
As Nigeria leads the charge, international stakeholders are convening in Paris to assess progress and commit to further actions in the fight against this debilitating disease.
