Addressing the re-emergence and resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases in Africa: A health equity perspective.

Vaccination is one of the greatest public health achievements of the 20th century, with a tremendous impact in the prevention and control of diseases. However, the recent reemergence of vaccine-preventable diseases calls for a need to evaluate current vaccination practices and disparities in vaccination between high-income countries and low-and-middle-income countries. There are massive deficits in vaccine availability and coverage in resource-constrained settings. Therefore, this perspective seeks to highlight the reemergence of vaccine-preventable diseases in Africa within the lens of health equity and offer recommendations on how the continent should be prepared to deal with the myriad of its health systems challenges. Among the notable factors contributing to the reemergence, stand health inequities affecting vaccine availability and the dynamic vaccine hesitancy. Strengthening health systems and addressing health inequities could prove useful in halting the reemergence of vaccine-preventable diseases.

Exploring the Role of Community Involvement in Reducing the Burden of Schistosomiasis and Other Neglected Tropical Diseases in Malawi: Where are We in the Fight Against Neglected Tropical Diseases?

Schistosomiasis has been endemic in Malawi since 1947. Despite the longevity of endemicity of the disease, it still maintains a high burden in Malawi. This could be attributed to insufficient coverage of preventive and therapeutic mass drug administration (MDA) which mainly targets school-aged children, leaving out adults who also bear a high burden of the disease. Additionally, despite well documented impact of community involvement in boosting up the effectiveness of health programmes, there is minimal community involvement in schistosomiasis control and prevention programmes. Therefore, this perspective seeks to discuss the historical background of schistosomiasis in Malawi, gaps in community engagement and participation and suggest ways of enhancing the role of the community in prevention and control programmes. Amongst other challenges, the control programmes are centralised, leading to minimal input at the district and community level as well as low awareness of schistosomiasis control and prevention methods at the community level. It is of utmost significance therefore to provide comprehensive schistosomiasis health education to the communities and devise a thorough outline of the specific roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders including community members in the fight against schistosomiasis and other neglected tropical diseases.

Malawi vaccination drive: An integrated immunization campaign against typhoid, measles, rubella, and polio; health benefits and potential challenges.

Vaccination stands as one of the most important scientific discoveries and public health achievements in the fight against diseases. For over a century, millions of early childhood deaths have been averted through routine immunizations. However, to prevent the morbidity and mortality associated with vaccine-preventable diseases and their complications and optimize the control of vaccine-preventable diseases in communities, high uptake rates must be achieved. Mass immunization campaigns (MICs) have globally been used to introduce new vaccines for major infectious diseases and improve coverage of routine vaccines through catch-up campaigns. Malawi recently undertook such a campaign to introduce a highly efficacious typhoid conjugate vaccine and provides a catch-up to measles, rubella, and polio. Such campaigns are associated with multiple benefits. However, the MICs are associated with multiple challenges to be successfully administered. In this review, we highlight recent MIC, vaccine coverage, and potential challenges and benefits and offer recommendation for future preventive campaigns.