In late February global vaccine experts and officials from across Africa gathered in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to celebrate one of the region’s biggest public health achievements: virtually obliterating meningitis A off the continent.
For a century meningococcal meningitis has swept across 26 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, killing and disabling people and placing huge burdens on families and health care systems.
While vaccines were previously available, they were marred by myriad issues: they could only be used once an epidemic had started; they didn’t protect young children or infants; and they only provided short-term protection.
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About the author
Sophie Cousins
Sophie Cousins a Devex Contributor based in South Asia. She is a health journalist focused on women and girls. She was previously based between Lebanon and Iraq, focusing on refugee health and conflict. She writes for international medical journals, including The Lancet, and for international news websites such as the Guardian.
