Vaccines
By Oluwakemi Oladipo/Omowunmi Alake
Lagos, June 5, 2018 (NAN) A medical researcher, Dr Bamidele Iwalokun, says vaccine preventable diseases such as rotavirus, diarrhoea, pneumonia and tuberculosis remained a major public health challenge in Nigeria.
Iwalokun, the Head of Immunology and Vaccinology Research Group in Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Yaba, spoke in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos.
According to him, the development of new vaccines will accelerate the global reduction of these diseases.
“The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that immunisation prevent two and three millions death every year.
“A vaccine is a substance used to stimulate the production of antibodies and provide immunity or protection against one or several diseases, prepared from the causative agent of a disease.
“Vaccines are the most cost effective public health tools which help to reduce infant and child mortality and fertility rate,” Iwalokun said.
On malaria, the medical researcher said that the development of malaria vaccine would help to save millions of lives and boost global economy by two trillion U.S dollars.
“It will also sustain and accelerate progress to eliminate malaria by 2040 and ward off threat to the efficacy of long lasting insecticide nets, indoor residual spray and intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy.
“Ensuring universal access to malaria prevention, diagnosis and treatment will help to eliminate and achieve malaria free status in the country.
“WHO has already set the stage for African countries, especially to fight malaria by developing a malaria vaccine that will be greater than 80 per cent efficacious.
“Government at all levels needs to prioritise and get involved in vaccines development programmes for malaria and HIV in the country,” he said. (NAN)
AOI/OKG/VIV/GOK
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Editing by Vivian Ihechu/Olagoke Olatoye