Cape Verde, a nine-island archipelago located in West Africa, was recently declared malaria-free by the World Health Organization (WHO). This historic announcement was made during an official ceremony attended by WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
The Prime Minister of Cape Verde, Ulisses Correia e Silva, welcomed this achievement which marks an important step for the country. “For a country whose main economic activity is tourism, the elimination of malaria means an end to travel restrictions, an improvement in perception and a strengthening of health confidence,” Silva said.
Cape Verde thus becomes the third country in the African region, after Mauritius and Algeria, to obtain malaria elimination status. According to the WHO, Africa bears a disproportionate share of the global malaria burden. In 2022, the region accounted for 94% of malaria cases in the world (233 million) and 95% of deaths linked to this disease (580,000).
This achievement is the result of sustained efforts by the Cape Verdean authorities, in collaboration with international partners such as the WHO and other health organizations. Preventative measures, such as the distribution of insecticide-treated bed nets and the establishment of malaria screening and treatment programs, have been put in place to control the spread of the disease.
The elimination of malaria in Cape Verde is excellent news for the country, both in terms of public health and economically. Tourism, being one of the main drivers of the Cape Verdean economy, will also benefit from this achievement. Potential travelers will be reassured to know that the country is malaria-free, boosting health confidence and facilitating visitor mobility.
However, it is important to emphasize that despite this success, the fight against malaria in Africa is far from over. Other countries in the region continue to battle this deadly disease, and additional efforts are needed to ensure universal access to malaria prevention, testing and treatment services.
In conclusion, the certification of Cape Verde as a malaria-free country is a major step in the fight against this disease in Africa. It is a victory for the country and an encouraging example for other countries in the region. However, it is essential to maintain malaria prevention and control efforts in order to completely eliminate this devastating disease from the African continent.