WHO has declared Cabo Verde free of malaria, marking a significant achievement in the fight against the deadly disease.
The certification is anticipated to facilitate advancements in other areas of health in the nation, such as utilizing existing systems for managing malaria to combat other illnesses transmitted by mosquitoes, like dengue fever.
“Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO, commends the Government and citizens of Cabo Verde for their unwavering determination and strength in their efforts towards eradicating malaria.”
He stated that the certification demonstrates the effectiveness of strategic planning, cooperation, and continuous work in safeguarding and promoting public health.
A triumph in Africa and worldwide.
Cabo Verde, or Cape Verde, has now gained certification for eliminating the disease, joining 43 other countries and one territory. This makes it the third African country, alongside Mauritius and Algeria, to achieve this status – with those two being declared malaria-free in 1973 and 2019, respectively.
The African continent carries the greatest burden of malaria, with about 95% of all global cases and 96% of related deaths occurring there in 2021.
Mr. Tedros expressed his belief that Cabo Verde’s achievement is a significant step in the worldwide effort to combat malaria. This accomplishment gives hope that, with both current and developing methods such as vaccines, we can strive for a world free of malaria.
Reiterating that sentiment, Matshidiso Moeti, the Africa Director for the World Health Organization, expressed that it serves as a motivating model for other countries to adopt.
She stated that Cabo Verde’s success is a source of hope for not only the African Region, but also for other areas. This shows that through determined government support, efficient strategies, involvement from the community, and cooperation across different sectors, getting rid of malaria is an attainable objective.
The Director-General of WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (on the right), celebrates the eradication of malaria in Cabo Verde with Prime Minister Ulisses Correia e Silva (in the center) and Minister of Health Filomena Mendes Gonçalves (on the left).
have been shown to decrease the incidence of infectious diseases.
Efforts made by the public health sector have been proven to reduce the occurrence of contagious illnesses.
The World Health Organization also recognized the ongoing endeavors of Cabo Verde in addressing malaria through various means such as policy implementation, diagnosis, treatment, and reporting.
In response to a 2017 outbreak, the company modified its strategies and achieved zero instances of native cases through improvements.
Amid the current COVID-19 crisis, steps were taken to maintain advancements in enhancing vector control and malaria diagnosis, as well as bolstering malaria surveillance for long-term effectiveness.
Verification of eradication of malaria
The certification of malaria elimination is the official recognition by WHO of a country’s malaria-free status.
The grant is given when a nation has proven, through thorough and trustworthy evidence, that the spread of Anopheles mosquito-borne diseases has been stopped throughout the entire country for at least three years in a row.
The nation must also show the ability to prevent the recurrence of transmission.
The WHO Director-General makes the ultimate determination for awarding a certification of being malaria-free, following a recommendation from the independent Technical Advisory Group on Malaria Elimination and Certification.
The source for this information is the United Nations news website.
