Latin America released from malaria by 2020

Yesterday was the twelfth edition of Malaria Day in the Americas, a platform for countries in the region to lead a dynamic campaign against malaria, a disease that was the leading cause of death in the last century. the nations of the world. Therefore, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) urged the countries of the region to take urgent measures to stop the increase in the number of cases, maintain the gains and rid the continent of this fatal illness.

Currently, Paraguay is the first malaria-free country in America, officially recognized in June of this year by the World Health Organization (WHO). In 1973, Cuba achieved this goal. Argentina is on track to obtain certification in 2019. Belize, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Mexico and Suriname are the list of 21 countries in the world that will eliminate malaria by 2020 Although other countries have experienced an increase in the number of cases, this threatens the achievement of the reduction of the number of cases and the corresponding elimination of the disease in the region by 2030.

PAHO Director Carissa F. Etienne said the elimination of malaria is now closer than ever, but believes that "we can not trust actions, nor relax actions, control efforts. need to be redoubled where the incidence has rebounded, "he maintained.

Malaria is endemic in 20 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, one less than in 2017 after its elimination in Paraguay. Since 2015, the number of malaria cases in the region has increased by 71%. 95% of the total was concentrated in five countries, mainly in specific areas where efforts to control the disease had been weakened. Many of the people affected are indigenous people, people in vulnerable situations and mobile populations such as miners and migrants.

"If we want to eliminate malaria, we need more investment and expand access to prevention, diagnosis and rapid treatment of the disease in the communities with the highest concentration of malaria. case, "said Marcos Espinal, director of the Department of Communicable Diseases and Determinants. Environmental Health of OPS.

Malaria Day in the Americas was instituted by the Member States of PAHO at the 2008 Governing Council and is an opportunity to highlight the need to invest in the prevention and control of the disease in the Americas. It is estimated that regional efforts coordinated by PAHO and its partners have saved hundreds of lives by reducing mortality rates by 30% between 2000 and 2017.