KAMPALA, Oct. 15 -- Uganda's Ministry of Health said on Tuesday that a malaria vaccine would be added to the country's routine immunization schedule to fight the killer disease and reduce the child mortality rate.

The malaria vaccine would be introduced in April 2025 targeting children aged from six months to five years, said the ministry in a statement issued here.

According to the ministry, for every 10 sick people in Uganda, three have malaria, while for every 10 children below five years old admitted to the hospital, six have malaria and may die. Among every 100 pregnant women, 20 suffer malaria and risk losing their babies and even their own lives.

"The introduction of the malaria vaccine will strengthen the government's efforts in further reducing the incidence and severity of malaria and contribute to overall childhood survival and reduction of infant/child mortality," the ministry said.

Data from the health ministry showed that malaria kills between 70,000 to 100,000 people in Uganda annually, mostly pregnant mothers and children.

The life-threatening disease is responsible for 30 to 40 percent of outpatient hospital visits, 15 to 20 percent of admissions, and 10 percent of inpatient deaths.

  - Xinhua