Cape Verde, the third country in Africa to eliminate malaria

Cape Verde, an archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean, on Friday December 12 became the third country in Africa where malaria is officially considered eradicated, while the disease kills millions of people on the continent every year.

Cape Verde, an island nation of about 500,000 inhabitants, is the first country in sub-Saharan Africa for fifty years – and Mauritius in 1973 – to be recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as having completely eradicated malaria. WHO speaks in a press release “Remarkable success in overall health”.

More than forty states have received similar certification, awarded when a country proves that the chain of household mosquito transmission has been interrupted nationally for at least three consecutive years. In Africa, in addition to Mauritius and Cape Verde, Algeria was declared malaria-free in 2019.

“Ray of Hope”

However, for nearly 250 million infections worldwide, malaria (or malaria) is causing an estimated 608,000 deaths in 2022, the WHO website clarifies. Fifty African countries bear a disproportionate share of the toll, accounting for 580,000 deaths or 95% of the global total and 94% of deaths. Children under 5 represent 80% of deaths in Africa.

“Cape Verde’s success is a ray of hope for the African region and beyond. It shows that malaria eradication is an achievable goal with strong political will, effective policies, community engagement and multi-sector collaboration.WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti declared as quoted by the organisation.

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This success, after others, “We hope that, thanks to existing or new tools, especially vaccines, we can begin to dream of a world without malaria”, adds Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. He presented the certificate to the Cape Verdean Prime Minister, Ulysses Correa e Silva, in the capital Praia on Friday.

Malaria is primarily transmitted to humans by the bite of certain types of infected female mosquitoes and occurs mainly in tropical regions. It can also be transmitted through blood transfusions and contaminated needles. It can be mild with symptoms such as fever and headache, but death can occur within 24 hours with the parasite. Plasmodium falciparum

which is most widespread in Africa.

A tourist bonanza

The fight against malaria has long consisted mainly of prevention through the use of mosquito nets or preventive medications and the use of insecticides. However, the WHO writes on its site to recommend two vaccines from 2021.

The Cape Verdean Prime Minister highlighted the expected gains from malaria eradication. “In a country whose main economic activity is tourism, eliminating malaria means removing barriers to mobility and strengthening the perception of health security, and we now hope for better results in tourism », he stressed to AFP. Tourism represents approximately 25% of Cape Verdean GDP.

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WHO recalls that before the 1950s, the archipelago regularly experienced severe epidemics and all islands were affected. The country managed to eliminate the disease through insecticide spraying in 1967 and 1983, but subsequent mistakes caused the disease to return. Since the last peak in the late 1980s, malaria has existed only on two islands, Santiago and Boa Vista, the WHO notes.

Eliminating malaria in Cape Verde became a national health objective in 2007 and gave rise to a strategic plan between 2009 and 2013, she mentioned. WHO calls for more comprehensive diagnosis, earlier treatment and free care for foreigners. Cape Verde has maintained vigilance despite the Covid-19 pandemic, she welcomes.

The world with AFP