On October 28, 2016 in cooperation with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Equatorial Guinea Malaria Vaccine Initiative (EGMVI) inaugurated a temporary clinical investigation center in the community of Baney and officially launched its second malaria vaccine trial in Equatorial Guinea. The latest trial will evaluate the safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity of two vaccine candidates, PfSPZ Vaccine and PfSPZ-CVac. The inauguration event aimed to inform representatives of WHO, UNICEF, and non-health sector stakeholders such as the Ministry of Mines and Hydrocarbons, Ministry of the Interior, and the Ministry of Social Affairs about the success of the first clinical trial and the objectives of the second trial that will take place in Baney district.

MCDI’s Interim Chief of Party for the EGMVI and Bioko Island Malaria Control (BIMCP) projects, Mr. Wonder Philip Phiri, underscored the tremendous support MCDI has offered and will continue to provide for the successful implementation of two projects that are focused on malaria control and elimination in the country, with support from Marathon Oil (MEGPL). Dr. Ally Olotu, the study’s Principal Investigator from Ifakara Health Institute, honored the great partnership between Tanzania and Equatorial Guinea in preparing the local research team to implement clinical trials. He encouraged continuous capacity building and research collaboration between Ifakara Health Institute and the Equatoguinean research team. Vaccine developer Sanaria’s representative, Dr. Steve Manock, highlighted the trials currently underway in other African countries such as Kenya, Ghana and Mali.

Other speakers congratulated the President of the Republic and EGMVI partners for joining the noble cause of ending a disease that continues to be the number one cause of mortality and morbidity among the citizens of Equatorial Guinea.

The EGMVI team led scores of distinguished guests on a tour of the newly renovated facility in Baney at the end of the event. A simulation of vaccination procedures was performed to show how 135 volunteers aged 6 months to 65 years would be received for Equatorial Guinea’s second malaria vaccine trial. Sensitization meetings, recruitment and screening activities of potential volunteers have already begun in the new clinical investigation center in Baney that was outfitted by MCDI. The vaccine trial will be carried out through mid-2017.