MVPE TEAM JOINS WHO TO MONITOR ONGOING MALARIA VACCINE IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAMME (MVIP) ACTIVITIES IN THE CENTRAL REGION.

October 1, 2022 | News Feed | Reading time: 6 min

On September 19, 2022, the Malaria Vaccine Pilot Evaluation team (MVPE) in Ghana led by Dr. Kwaku Poku Asante, the Coordinating Investigator and Director of Kintampo Health Research Centre was in the Central region (Cape Coast), which is one of the project’s study areas to welcome a team from WHO. The team from WHO headquarters (hqrs) in Geneva and the country office in Ghana visited the Central region of Ghana to monitor ongoing Malaria Vaccine Implementation Programme (MVIP) activities.

The WHO team was headed by Dr Francis Chisaka Kasolo, the WHO Country representative for Ghana, and Dr Mary Hamel, WHO Senior Technical Officer and Malaria Vaccine implementation Programme Lead. Other members of the delegation included Dr Rafiq Okine Medical Officer, Malaria Vaccines Global Malaria Programme, WHO hqrs and Mr Peter Tweneboah, WHO Ghana Country office.

Other members of the evaluation team consisted of Dr Thomas Gyan the project coordinator for Ghana, Prof Daniel Ansong, the safety lead and Dr Lawrence Osei Tutu, clinical monitor for central region.

The objective of the visit was to assess ongoing MVIP activities in readiness and preparedness for the national rollout of the RTS,S/AS01 malaria vaccine implementation in Ghana and beyond.

Meeting with staff at Ewim Polyclinic, Cape Coast

The monitoring visit began with a courtesy call on the Director and management of the Central Regional Health Directorate in Cape Coast that are leading the vaccine implementation in the region.

The team visited the Ewim Polyclinic (vaccination clinic) and a sentinel hospital (Cape Coast Teaching Hospital), a site where surveillance activities of the safety component of Malaria Vaccine Pilot Evaluation (MVPE) has been ongoing. The team was there to gain first-hand knowledge on the field level vaccine implementation and evaluation under the programme.

The visit to the Cape Coast Teaching hospital included courtesy call on the CEO and management, the children ward and the laboratory. During the visit, the team had detailed discussions and consultation with the Regional Directors, regional disease control officers, the CEO, medical Director, ward in-charges, Doctors, nurses, laboratory scientists, administrators and caregivers.