MALARIA – CAPE VERDE: ELIMINATION, WHO
A ProMED-mail post
http://www.promedmail.org
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
http://www.isid.org
Date: Fri 12 Jan 2024
Source: WHO [edited]
https://www.who.int/news/item/12-01-2024-who-certifies-cabo-verde-as-malaria-free–marking-a-historic-milestone-in-the-fight-against-malaria
The World Health Organization (WHO) has certified Cabo Verde as a
malaria-free country, marking a significant achievement in global
health. With this announcement, Cabo Verde joins the ranks of 43
countries and one territory that WHO has awarded this certification
to.
Cabo Verde is the 3rd country to be certified in the WHO African
region, joining Mauritius and Algeria, which were certified in 1973
and 2019, respectively. Malaria burden is the highest on the African
continent, which accounted for approximately 95% of global malaria
cases and 96% of related deaths in 2021.
Certification of malaria elimination will drive positive development
on many fronts for Cabo Verde. Systems and structures built for
malaria elimination have strengthened the health system and will be
used to fight other mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue fever.
Travelers from non-malaria endemic regions can now travel to the
islands of Cabo Verde without fear of local malaria infections and the
potential inconvenience of preventive treatment measures. This has the
potential to attract more visitors and boost socio-economic activities
in a country where tourism accounts for approximately 25% of GDP.
“I salute the government and people of Cabo Verde for their unwavering
commitment and resilience in their journey to eliminating malaria,”
said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “WHO’s
certification of Cabo Verde being malaria-free is testament to the
power of strategic public health planning, collaboration, and
sustained effort to protect and promote health. Cabo Verde’s success
is the latest in the global fight against malaria, and gives us hope
that with existing tools, as well as new ones, including vaccines, we
can dare to dream of a malaria-free world.”
Certification of malaria elimination is the official recognition by
WHO of a country’s malaria-free status. The certification is granted
when a country has shown — with rigorous, credible evidence — that
the chain of indigenous malaria transmission by Anopheles mosquitoes
has been interrupted nationwide for at least the past 3 consecutive
years. A country must also demonstrate the capacity to prevent the
re-establishment of transmission.
“The certification as a malaria-free country has a huge impact, and
it’s taken a long time to get to this point. In terms of the country’s
external image, this is very good, both for tourism and for everyone
else. The challenge that Cabo Verde has overcome in the health system
is being recognised”, said Cabo Verde Prime Minister Ulisses Correia e
Silva.
Cabo Verde, an archipelago of 10 islands in the Central Atlantic
Ocean, has faced significant malaria challenges. Before the 1950s, all
islands were affected by malaria. Severe epidemics were regular
occurrences in the most densely populated areas until targeted
interventions were implemented. Through the targeted use of
insecticide spraying, the country eliminated malaria twice: in 1967
and 1983. However, subsequent lapses in vector control led to a return
of the disease. Since the last peak of malaria cases in the late
1980s, malaria in Cabo Verde has been confined to 2 islands: Santiago
and Boa Vista, which have now both been malaria-free since 2017.
“Cabo Verde’s achievement is a beacon of hope for the African Region
and beyond. It demonstrates that with strong political will, effective
policies, community engagement, and multisectoral collaboration,
malaria elimination is an achievable goal,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti,
WHO Regional Director for Africa. “The attainment of this milestone by
Cabo Verde is an inspiring example for other nations to follow.”
Cabo Verde’s journey to malaria elimination has been long and received
a boost with the inclusion of this objective in its national health
policy in 2007. A strategic malaria plan from 2009 to 2013 laid the
groundwork for success, focusing on expanded diagnosis, early and
effective treatment, and the reporting and investigating all cases. To
stem the tide of imported cases from mainland Africa, diagnosis and
treatment were provided free of charge to international travelers and
migrants.
In 2017, the country turned an outbreak into an opportunity. Cabo
Verde identified problems and made improvements, leading to zero
indigenous cases for 3 consecutive years.
During the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the country safeguarded
progress. Efforts focused on improving the quality and sustainability
of vector control and malaria diagnosis, and strengthening malaria
surveillance, especially at ports and airports, in the capital city,
and in areas with a risk of malaria re-establishment.
Collaboration between the Ministry of Health and various government
departments focused on the environment, agriculture, transportation,
tourism, and more played a pivotal role in Cabo Verde’s success. The
inter-ministerial commission for vector control, chaired by the prime
minister, was key to elimination. The collaborative effort and the
commitment of community-based organizations and NGOs demonstrate the
importance of a holistic approach to public health.
As Cabo Verde celebrates this monumental achievement, the global
community commends its leaders, healthcare professionals, and citizens
for their dedication to eliminating malaria and creating a healthier
future for all.