To mark World Immunization Week, PATH is reporting on the lifesaving potential of vaccines against four illnesses that kill more than 2 million young children a year: malaria, pneumonia, rotavirus, and Japanese encephalitis. Here, Dr. John Boslego, director of PATH’s Vaccine Development Program, lists top 10 ways vaccines make a difference for children and for global health. This post originally appeared on PATH.
One of the most effective methods the United States supports to fight malaria around the world is spraying homes in the areas where the mosquitos live with an insecticide – delivering a knock-out punch to the pesky population. This video shows how one community in Ghana is mobilizing against malaria.
The greatest success story in global health is anchored by a continent once known mostly for famine and war. Many countries in sub-Saharan Africa are making unprecedented gains in child survival and reducing the devastating burden of malaria—a disease carried by mosquitoes and a major killer of children. U.S. Global Malaria Coordinator, Rear Admiral (RET.) R. Tim Ziemer, provides an update on efforts to roll back malaria for good.
Global efforts to control and eliminate malaria have saved an estimated 3.3 million lives since 2000, reducing malaria mortality by half in sub-Saharan Africa, according to the World Malaria Report 2013 published by the World Health Organization (WHO). Nearly 70% of these lives saved were in the 10 countries with the highest malaria burden, and among children under 5 years of age – the group most affected by the disease.
