KINSHASA, April 25 -- The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) recorded 24,344 malaria-related deaths in 2023, compared to 24,880 in 2022, Minister of Public Health Roger Kamba said on Thursday.

"In 2023, our country has recorded 27,657,762 cases of malaria and has counted 24,344 deaths due to malaria, showing a slight upward trend in the number of cases and a downward trend in deaths," Kamba said.

"The introduction in the coming days in our country of the R21/Matrix-M vaccine recommended by the World Health Organization in the fight against malaria is part of this logic," he said, adding that "this vaccine, whose effects are satisfactory, is today cited as an example of innovation in health and a scientific breakthrough to tackle this endemic disease in infants and children under five."

According to the 2023 World Malaria Report published in November 2023 by the WHO, the progressive deployment in Malawi, Ghana and Kenya of malaria vaccines has shown promising results. According to the document, a rigorous evaluation reveals a significant decrease in severe malaria and a 13 percent decrease in deaths among young children in vaccinated areas.

According to the 2023 World Malaria Report, in 2022, 12 percent of malaria cases and 12 percent of the deaths occurred in the DRC.

  - Xinhua