The World Health Organization (WHO) has certified Cabo Verde as a malaria-free country, marking a momentous triumph in global health. Cabo Verde joins the ranks of 43 countries and one territory that WHO has awarded this certification. ALSO READ: African leaders commit to eliminate malaria by 2030 Cabo Verde is the third country to be certified in the WHO African region, joining Mauritius and Algeria which were certified in 1973 and 2019, respectively. The certification of malaria elimination is the official recognition by WHO of a country’s malaria-free status. ALSO READ: Hope for 'malaria-free world' as WHO approves new vaccine The accreditation is granted when a country has shown, with reliable evidence, that the chain of indigenous malaria transmission by Anopheles mosquitoes has been halted nationwide for at least three consecutive years. According to WHO, a country must also validate the capacity to avert the re-establishment of transmission. The elimination of malaria is likely to attract more visitors and boost socio-economic activities in a country where tourism records approximately 25 per cent of GDP. Travellers from non-malaria widespread regions can now travel to the islands of Cabo Verde without fear of local malaria infections and the possible inopportuneness of preventive treatment measures. The WHO states that the certification of malaria elimination will motivate positive development in Cabo Verde. Systems and structures built for malaria elimination have reinforced the health system and will be used to fight other mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue fever. “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 the Cabo Verde´s Prime Minister, Ulisses Correia e Silva, as stated on the WHO website. Cabo Verde, composed of 10 islands in the Central Atlantic Ocean, has encountered malaria challenges. For example, before the 1950s, all islands were affected by the killer disease. Severe epidemics occurred consecutively especially in the most densely populated areas until besieged interventions were instigated. According to the WHO, Cabo Verde’s journey to malaria elimination has been extensive 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 curtail the wave of imported cases from mainland Africa, diagnosis and treatment were provided free of charge to international travellers and migrants. In 2017, the country fought the outbreak, singled out the issue, and made progress thus leading to zero endemic cases for three years nonstop. The country secured improvement and efforts on the quality and sustainability of vector control and malaria diagnosis during the Covid-19 pandemic, everywhere for instance, at the ports, airports, in the capital city and areas with a threat of malaria restoration. The inter-ministerial commission for vector control, led by the country’s Prime Minister was key to elimination and the collective effort and the obligation of community-based organizations and NGOs proved the significance of a complete method to public health. Malaria is still a burden and at its peak on the African continent. It accounted for approximately 95 per cent of global malaria cases and 96 per cent of related deaths in 2021. Malaria is a deadly disease spread to humans by mosquitoes and is mostly found in tropical countries. However, it is preventable and curable. Experts say that malaria is mostly spread to people through the bites of some infected female Anopheles mosquitoes or it can be transmitted through blood transfusion and contaminated needles. WHO reports that infants, children under five years, pregnant women, travellers and people with HIV or AIDS are at higher risk of severe infection and suggests prevention by avoiding mosquito bites and with medicines. Treatments can stop mild cases from getting worse. According to the latest World Malaria report, there were 249 million cases of malaria in 2022 compared to 244 million cases in 2021. The estimated number of malaria deaths stood at 608,000 in 2022 compared to 610,000 in 2021. ALSO READ: Rwanda to unveil new plan to eliminate malaria The WHO Global technical strategy for malaria 2016 to 2030, updated in 2021, provides a technical framework for all malaria-endemic countries. It is intended to guide and support regional and country programmes as they work towards malaria control and elimination. The strategy sets ambitious but achievable global targets, including reducing malaria case incidence by at least 90 per cent by 2030, reducing malaria mortality rates by at least 90 per cent by 2030, eliminating malaria in at least 35 countries by 2030 and preventing a rebirth of malaria in all malaria-free countries.
