“It won’t be serious anymore, and your children won’t die.”

A simple puncture will save 600,000 lives every year. It’s about Miracle vaccine for malariawho began to be vaccinated in Cameroon. About 200 million cases are reported annually, most of them in Africa. The little Cameroonian made his contribution to the history of the future of Africa. “Once we give the fourth dose, the malaria will no longer be serious and your children will not die,” explains the nurse from there.

The miracle took decades. Although this does not mean that other preventive measures should be abandoned. “The effectiveness of the vaccine is much higher if it is combined with other preventive measures, such as mosquito nets or repellents,” he says. Patricia PostigoDoctors Without Borders’ guide to vaccines and epidemics.

There are 250 million cases of malaria and 600,000 deaths, 94% occurring in Africa in children under 5 years of age. This catastrophe repeats itself year after year, especially in rainy seasonWith. Blame the mosquito Anopheles. There is already a cure for the most dangerous and it will become part of the childhood vaccination program. But experts insist on the need to prepare the population. “We must raise awareness among healers, families…”, the expert adds.

Africa is the homeland of this mosquito. But Latin America is not exempt from them. Brazil, Colombia or Venezuela are the most affected countries. Melfran Herrera from MSF in Venezuela is confident that work is already underway. “Since 2021, cases have dropped by 60% and we have had no malaria deaths in the last two years,” he adds. But the most dangerous thing is not the mosquito, since its infestation here is not fatal. The danger is that there are not enough funds and qualified personnel.