In a significant milestone for global health, Cabo Verde has been officially certified as malaria-free by The World Health Organization (WHO).
This achievement makes Cabo Verde the third country in the WHO African region to attain malaria-free status in the last 50 years, following in the footsteps of Mauritius and Algeria, certified in 1973 and 2019, respectively.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, commended the government and people of Cabo Verde, acknowledging their commitment and resilience in eliminating malaria. He emphasized that Cabo Verde’s success is a testament to strategic public health planning, collaboration, and sustained efforts to protect and promote health.
Dr. Tedros expressed hope for a malaria-free world, highlighting the importance of existing tools and new innovations, including vaccines.
Dr. Michael Charles, CEO of the RBM Partnership to End Malaria, praised Cabo Verde’s dedication and perseverance. He emphasized that strategic planning, sustained investment, community engagement, and widespread implementation of preventative measures are key to achieving the global goal of malaria eradication. Dr. Charles emphasized that Cabo Verde’s success is not only a victory for the country but for the entire global malaria community.
Despite Cabo Verde’s achievement, Dr. Charles also sounded a note of caution, reminding the global community that the fight against malaria is far from over. He highlighted the impacts of climate change on malaria and the emergence of cases in areas previously declared malaria-free.
With global malaria cases exceeding 249 million, a rise of 16 million since before the pandemic, Dr. Charles urged continued commitment to invest, implement, and innovate new strategies and tools.
Cabo Verde successfully eliminated malaria through a strategic plan implemented from 2009 to 2013. The plan focused on expanded diagnosis, early and effective treatment, and increased surveillance and reporting of malaria cases.
A 2017 outbreak prompted Cabo Verde to identify areas for improvement, resulting in zero indigenous cases for three years. The country’s dedication to extensive malaria surveillance during the COVID-19 pandemic ensured the preservation of its malaria-free status.
Having faced significant challenges with malaria in the past, Cabo Verde is now poised to reap economic benefits, especially in the tourism sector, constituting about 25% of its GDP. As a malaria-free destination, Cabo Verde can attract travelers without the fear of contracting the disease, likely leading to an increase in visitor numbers.
While celebrating Cabo Verde’s achievement, the RBM Partnership highlighted the global fight against malaria’s ongoing challenges. The latest World Malaria Report revealed an estimated 608,000 malaria deaths globally in 2022, with rising case numbers in several countries in Pakistan, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Uganda and Papua New Guinea, compared to the previous year.
Today, half of the world’s population is thought to be at risk of the disease. Given this, it is crucial that the global community remains committed to supporting the fight to end malaria.
The report underscores the importance of the global community’s sustained commitment to ending malaria, as half of the world’s population remains at risk of the disease.
ends