By Muhammad Amaan
As of 2024, HPV vaccines had averted nearly one million cervical cancer deaths in 29 African countries, while the malaria vaccine, now in 25 countries, is already cutting severe disease and hospitalisations.
This is based on an assessment by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and the World Health Organisation (WHO) Africa Region, released ahead of African Vaccination Week on April 24 to April 30 and World Malaria Day on April 25.
Immunisation coverage has expanded on the continent since 2000 when just eight vaccine-preventable diseases were included in routine immunisation schedules compared with 13 currently.
Introduction of vaccines such as malaria and the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines is providing vital protection for children, young girls and women.
Recent HPV campaigns in Nigeria, Ghana, Ethiopia, and Angola vaccinated millions of girls within weeks. They used schools and existing health programmes to do it, even while battling other outbreaks and competing priorities.
Since 2019, the number of African countries with HPV vaccination programmes has increased from 12 to 35, and coverage rates have risen from five per cent in 2014 to 47 per cent in 2024 – placing the region second globally in terms of coverage, behind the Americas.
Across Africa, HPV vaccination has generated an estimated $1.8 billion in economic benefits through avoided treatment costs, productivity gains, and lives saved.
Through the Gavi-supported malaria vaccine programme, implemented by countries in partnership with WHO, UNICEF and others, more than 52 million doses have been delivered since 2023 in some of the world’s highest‑burden, fragile, and operationally complex settings.
Early reports from Kenya, Malawi, Ghana and Cameroon show reduced severe disease and hospital admissions, reinforcing pilot data.
The same pattern is visible in Burkina Faso, where the vaccine has been introduced and expanded nationwide to all 70 health districts.
Alongside other control measures, these efforts have already contributed to a 32 per cent decline in reported malaria cases between 2024 and 2025.
This also included sharp reductions in cases among children under five, and nearly halved malaria‑related child deaths.
Initial estimates from Burkina Faso’s Ministry of Health indicate household savings of more than $26.6 million in direct healthcare costs highlighting how vaccines, combined with strong national programmes, can shift transmission at scale.
Translating this momentum into sustained impact, WHO is working with partners and governments to reinforce the operational systems that underpin malaria vaccine rollout.
Regional political platforms, including the Economic Community of West African States Assembly provide an important space for sustained ministerial engagement as countries move from introduction to long-term programmatic integration.
Dr Robert Lucien Kargougou, Minister of Health of Burkina Faso: “For decades, malaria placed a heavy burden on Burkina Faso’s health system and on families, especially during the rainy season.
“Thanks to strong political commitment and the expansion of malaria vaccination to all 70 health districts, combined with the distribution of bed nets, seasonal chemoprevention, and community mobilisation for sanitation and the elimination of mosquito breeding sites.
“We are recording a drastic and historic decline in cases and deaths, fewer hospitalisations, and real savings in healthcare costs.”
“HPV and malaria vaccines have enabled us to open up new frontiers in healthcare against one of Africa’s deadliest cancers and old diseases,” said Thabani Maphosa, Chief Country Delivery Officer, Gavi.
“The success of these programmes is testament to the commitment and hard work of governments, partners and healthcare workers, and a reflection of strong community trust in the ability of vaccines to save lives and protect families.”
WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Mohamed Janabi said, “In Africa, vaccines are delivering some of the most effective and high-impact interventions we have, from preventing cervical cancer through HPV vaccination to advancing malaria control with new tools and approaches.”
“HPV vaccination offers exceptional public health returns and brings us closer to cervical cancer elimination.
“At the same time, the malaria response is entering a new phase driven by country ownership. Ending these diseases is achievable when we act decisively, together.”
Building on years of planning, community engagement and raising awareness, Africa is poised to change the game in the fight against both cervical cancer and malaria.
By 2030, 10 more African countries will roll out the HPV vaccine and five more will introduce the malaria vaccine, all with Gavi support.
Overall, the programme seeks to reach 50 million children across the continent with a full course of malaria vaccines by the end of the decade.
However, this progress is at risk. Lower-income countries are now funding vaccines at record levels, but that’s not enough, warned Gavi and Africa CDC.
They emphasised that sustained investment and more domestic funding are critical to keep these life-saving programmes working.
The malaria programme faces a nearly 30 per cent budget shortfall, which has led to a scale-back in support.
Bridging this gap and protecting as many vulnerable children as possible will require additional domestic and donor financing.
Between 2026 and 2030, countries will finance HPV, malaria, and other Gavi-supported vaccines from their own budgets – a first. Gavi will also shift over 90 per cent of its procurement budget to direct country control.
“In a time of funding constraints, this approach aims to provide governments a five-year resource view and control over which vaccines to prioritise based on national strategy, context and needs.”
However, due to funding gaps, countries will have to make difficult choices that Gavi estimates will lead to 600,000 fewer lives saved by the end of the decade.
Cervical cancer strikes hardest in lower-income countries, which often lack screening services and equitable access to treatment.
As a result, these countries account for 90 per cent of the 350,000 deaths from cervical cancer recorded in 2022.
Malaria is endemic in 80 countries. Half of those is in the African continent, and five countries in particular, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Ethiopia, and Mozambique, accounted for half of all cases in 2024.
