MALARIA VACCINE TRIAL IN KINTAMPO: A Step To Reducing The Prevalence Rate In Ghana

Malaria has plagued humanity since ancient times and continues to haunt 40% of the world's population, infecting more than 500 million people per year and killing over 1 million. The burden of malaria is heaviest in sub-Saharan Africa but the disease also afflicts Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and even parts of Europe.

It is against this background that the Kintampo Health Research Centre (KHRC) has embarked on the RTS,S malaria vaccine trial here in Ghana. The RTS, S Malaria vaccine was created in 1987 and has been developed by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Biologicals in collaboration with the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in the USA.

Undoubtedly, the vaccine trial has proved to be safe in trials with adults in the USA, Belgium and Kenya, as well as in children in Mozambique and the Gambia.KHRC joined in the effort to developing the RTS,S vaccine in September 2006.It embarked on the vaccine trial in children between the 5-17 months old in the Kintampo North and South districts in the Brong Ahafo region of Ghana.

One may ask, what is the rationale behind the vaccine trial (MAL047) being undertaken by KHRC? The vaccine trial is to assess the safety of the vaccine in children aged five (5) months to seventeen (17) old. The other striking significance is that it compares the impact of three potential immunization schedules on the immune response. This will help partners to identify the most effective immunization schedule prior to the commencement of a phase III trial using the same vaccine.

Having successfully undertaken the maiden malaria vaccine trial, the second is introduced into infants between 6-10 weeks of age. The aim of this trial is to test the safety and immunogenicity of the vaccine when given alongside the routine EPI vaccination in younger children.

By immunogenicity, it means that the trial looks at how substances are produced in the body which help to fight diseases.

The consent of community members was sought and the plans and conduct of the trials were reviewed by a number of regulatory authorities prior to the start of the study. Notably among these were: the Ghana Health Service Ethical Review Committee, Food and Drug Board, KHRC’s Institutional Ethics Committee, KHRC’s Scientific Review Committee, Western Institutional Review Board (USA) and the Ethics Committee of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

The Kintampo Health Research Centre has established itself as a centre of excellence in health research owing to its diverse areas of health research. It is the only health research centre out of the three in Ghana engaged in mental health research, and the centre is currently undertaking a research in mental health and poverty project called MHAPP.The research undertaken by KHRC is needs-based and community-oriented. As a well established research centre for 14 years, it lays emphasis on African solutions to African health challenges. It should therefore not come as a surprise that KHRC in its bid to help have a lasting solution to the devastating disease-malaria which is claiming millions of lives globally, has been engaging in malaria related research in collaboration with its partners.

As we celebrate World Malaria Day today, the day should not be interpreted as a day for gloom and fear. It is a day of determination and optimism as the global community now has enough evidence that this fight can be won if partners collaborate efficiently on community, local, national, regional and international levels. In this direction, KHRC is committed to coming out with formidable results in health research, especially in malaria so as to mitigate if not eradicate entirely the endemic disease in our country, continent and the world at large.

If you would like more information about the topic or to schedule an interview with the trial director and other senior researchers, please call Casimir on:

Mobile: 0246 391916
Tel: 061 37304/ 38869 Ext 118 or
e-mail: Kabio Casimir Donlebo .