The Health Adviser in the British High Commission (BHC) in Abuja, Dr. Ebere Anyachukwu, has advocated for the administration of vaccines to children to prevent malaria and other diseases, News About Nigeria reports.
He made this appeal while speaking in an interview on Wednesday in Abuja, ahead of World Malaria Day scheduled for April 25.
He appealed to parents and guardians that as soon as the vaccines are made available in Nigeria, they should ensure they get their infants vaccinated, as this will keep them safe against the various diseases known to affect children.
Anyachukwu added that the malaria vaccine, combined with other malaria preventive measures, was key to the fight against the disease.
He debunked the reports questioning the safety and effectiveness of the malaria vaccine, stating that studies have shown that the vaccine is safe and effective and has been used in several countries.
“The vaccine approved by the World Health Organisation (WHO) is RTSS, which was developed by UK institutions like GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), while the R 21 was also developed by Oxford University.
“These developed vaccines marked one of the contributions of the UK to malaria interventions,” he stated.
He also proposed other health measures parents can take to make sure their wards are safe, including getting their wards tested in case of fever, carrying out treatment promptly, and keeping the environment clean to avoid mosquitoes breeding there, especially where there is stagnant water, among other safety measures.
“Parents should also ensure that their children are vaccinated against a whole range of diseases,” he added.
