NOSInformation to young people about fake news about malaria
NOS Nieuws•gisteren, 20:27
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Saskia Houttuin
correspondent Afrika
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Saskia Houttuin
correspondent Afrika
A vaccine against malaria. For scientists, this seemed like a dream for a long time, almost bordering on the impossible. But after decades of research, a medical breakthrough came this year: parents in Africa can now have their babies vaccinated against mosquito disease, which significantly reduces the risk of death.
Because a child still dies almost every minute from the effects of malaria. Every year, millions of people contract the disease, which is transmitted by mosquitoes. 94 percent of them live on the African continent. It is also called a silent killer, especially for young children.
There was a festive atmosphere at the airport of the Cameroonian capital Yaoundé when the first shipment of Mosquirix arrived there a year ago. The drug is one of two malaria vaccines approved by the World Health Organization in recent years.
“We store very valuable medication here that gives children the chance to survive,” said Shalom Tchokfe Ndoula, the head of the national vaccination program, during a tour of a refrigerated storage container.
“This prevents the disease from reaching the stage of complications: anemia, cerebral malaria. Because besides causing people to suffer seriously, it also causes a lot of poverty.”
NOSShalom Tchokfe Ndoula
Quite a bit went into making that happen. The first attempts to develop a vaccine against malaria were made as early as the 1980s. But due to financial setbacks and varying international interest, the process was delayed. The fact that malaria is a parasite, and not a virus or bacteria, made it extra complicated.
After a number of pilot programs in different parts of the African continent, Cameroon became the first country to make the vaccine part of its national vaccination program in January. There are now thirteen countries that do this, and more will follow in the coming years.
Yet the vaccine is not off to a flying start in Cameroon, doctors tell NOS. Figures show that on average less than two-thirds of children have received a first injection. These numbers decrease even further for the repeat injections given at 7, 9 and 24 months.
This is partly due to logistical start-up problems and the uncertain security situation in parts of the country. But there is also another challenge that has taken off since the corona pandemic: fake news. “In healthcare we now see disinformation as our biggest threat,” says Ndoula. “That’s the reality we have to live with now.”
The mosquito disease malaria is still one of the deadliest diseases in Africa
Since 2020, the so-called Africa Infodemic Response Alliance has been keeping track of these on a special WHO network trends of fake news going around on social media. They have already highlighted the malaria vaccine several times.
There was a spike in disinformation, especially around the launch in Cameroon, according to Hemes Nkwa, an epidemiologist who started a platform that combats fake news in the medical sector in Cameroon, Youth for Health and Development of Africa (Yoheda). “Online, influencers spread messages stating that the vaccine would make girls infertile or kill children.”
With her organization, Nkwa wants to debunk these types of messages, via social media and its own website. They also visit schools, where they educate young people about the dangers of fake news. “Because once a fake message is online, it is very difficult to do anything about it,” says Nkwa. “You have to be ahead of it.”
NOSDoses of the vaccine now being distributed in Cameroon
That is not easy, she acknowledges. Moreover, there is more to it than just the aftermath of the corona pandemic. In Cameroon, as in many other African countries, there are still traces of the medical experiments that colonizers carried out on the population a century ago.
For example, French scientists experimented extensively with medication for all kinds of tropical diseases, including sleeping sickness. Millions of people were held at gunpoint while undergoing medical examinations. In Cameroon, some sick or non-sick people were given medication that had serious side effects. A certain drug caused 20 percent of those who received it to become (partly) blind.
In these areas the vaccination rate is still lower than in other parts of the country research shows. “This whole history is still felt today,” Nkwa says. “It also justifies why people here are still hesitant about vaccines.”
Still, doctor Ndoula, who manages the national vaccination program, remains hopeful that the current reality will eventually dawn on the refusers. He hopes that parents will automatically realize that the vaccine does have an effect and that children will not experience any strange side effects. “That will be the best campaign,” he says.
Understanding Fake News Around Malaria Vaccines
Oh, malaria—the pandemic that’s been buzzing around longer than a bad pop song on the radio! In Africa, where mosquitoes could probably apply for a reality show based on their pesky antics, the fight against malaria continues with a new ally: a vaccine. But guess what? There’s a twist—fake news is just as infectious.
A Breakthrough and a Heartbreak
This year, a vaccine against malaria seems to have been dropped like a confetti bomb at a birthday party after decades of research that felt like looking for a needle in a haystack of mosquitoes. A child dies nearly every minute from malaria, so the vaccine’s arrival is about as welcome as a cake at a diet meeting.
The Festive Arrival in Cameroon
Picture this: the airport in Yaoundé turning into a mini-celebration when the first shipment of Mosquirix arrived last year. Folks popping the champagne, waiting to store their “valuable medication,” you know, like they’re storing rare Beanie Babies instead of life-saving vaccines. Shalom Tchokfe Ndoula, head of the national vaccination program, isn’t wrong when he says this vaccine gives children a chance to survive. Let’s face it—complications from malaria like anemia or cerebral malaria can turn kids’ lives into a horror movie sequel.
A Vaccine’s Roller Coaster Ride
But hold your horses—this vaccine’s debut is less ‘Hollywood blockbuster’ and more ‘arthouse indie flick.’ Only two-thirds of children in Cameroon have received their first dose, and the numbers drop faster than a bad Tinder match for follow-up shots. It’s a mix of logistical nightmares and—surprise, surprise—fake news running rampant like that one friend who can’t stop spreading gossip.
Fake News—The Unwanted Alex Reed
Did you hear? Influencers are now claiming this vaccine could make girls infertile! Because that’s exactly what scientists were aiming for when they created the vaccine: a side effect to ruin everyone’s day! Hemes Nkwa, an epidemiologist, is leading the charge against this nonsense through her platform, Yoheda, making it her personal mission to educate young people about the perils of ‘clickbait gone wild’. After all, once a fake message hits the internet, it’s like trying to catch smoke with your bare hands.
The Historical Skepticism
Now, if the drama of the present wasn’t enough, let’s sprinkle in some historical context. The ghosts of colonial experiments linger in places like Cameroon. It’s hard to trust a vaccine when your ancestors were held at gunpoint for questionable treatments! Millions faced real side effects; nobody wants to feel like they’re participating in a live science experiment—unless, of course, it’s for a Netflix series.
Hope Springs Eternal
Yet, Dr. Ndoula remains the optimist amid this chaos, hoping that eventually, parents will realize the vaccine does its job and they won’t have to worry about wild side effects that are clearer than a mosquito’s bite on a hot summer night. At the end of the day, convincing folks to get vaccinated is like teaching a cat to fetch: it might take a while, and you might end up with an injured ego—or an awkward silence.
Conclusion: Fighting the Infodemic
The impending danger of fake news is now a top contender for the title of “Greatest Threat to Healthcare.” So, as we navigate this wild wave of misinformation, let’s raise our metaphorical glasses to those fighting the good fight against malaria and the fake news that threatens to undermine it. And remember: when it comes to health, always double-check before sharing; your thumbs might be quicker than the truth!
Effect that would leave half the population unable to have kids. Social media has turned into a breeding ground for disinformation, especially since the pandemic started. Hemes Nkwa, an epidemiologist and the mastermind behind Youth for Health and Development of Africa (Yoheda), is fighting back. With her organization, she’s tackling fake news like a superhero in a lab coat, using social media to educate and combat the myths swirling around the malaria vaccine.
The Legacy of Distrust
But it’s not just the pandemic that’s causing skepticism. Historically, the medical experiments performed during colonial times still haunt communities. Imagine being coerced into trials, with no say in the matter, and emerging with side effects that could blind you. This terrible legacy contributes to a deep-rooted distrust of modern medicine. Nkwa reminds us that this history is more than a storyline from a history book; it shapes current attitudes and sighs of skepticism.
Hope on the Horizon
Despite the hurdles, Ndoula’s optimism shines through. He believes that as parents witness the benefits of the vaccine—children surviving and thriving—they’ll start to turn the tide on the fears sown by disinformation and history. After all, nothing beats the charm of real-life results. The rollout may resemble a slow dance rather than a fast-paced club scene, but with persistence and truth on their side, hope prevails in the battle against malaria, one shot at a time.
