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What happened?

The World Health Organization (WHO), based on recommendations from the Independent Technical Advisory Group on Malaria Elimination and Certification, has certified Egypt as malaria-free.

This follows years of effort from the North African country to fight the disease, implementing strategies such as free malaria diagnosis and treatment for all, cross-border partnerships, vector control, and nationwide continuous training for all healthcare workers on detection and screening for malaria.

Egypt joins Morocco and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as the only three countries to be awarded a malaria-free certification in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region.

Malaria in Africa

According to the WHO, in 2022, there were approximately 590,935 malaria deaths from the African continent, representing 97% of global deaths from the disease.

Climate change, poverty, human movement, and resistance have been cited as the main reasons for the region’s disproportionate disease burden.

What was said?

“This certification of Egypt as malaria-free is truly historic and a testament to the commitment of the people and government of Egypt to rid themselves of this ancient scourge. I congratulate Egypt on this achievement, which is an inspiration to other countries in the region and shows what’s possible with the right resources and the right tools,” emphasized Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.

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Egypt’s Deputy Prime Minister, Dr. Khaled Ghaffar, insisted that the country will need to work hard to sustain its achievement. 

He stated Egypt will need to maintain the highest standards for surveillance, diagnosis, and treatment, integrated vector management, and an efficient response to imported cases.

How do nations achieve malaria-free status?

The WHO certifies that a country has eradicated malaria when it can demonstrate, without a reasonable doubt, that the Anopheles mosquito-borne disease chain has been broken countrywide for at least the last three years.

A nation must also show that it has the ability to stop transmission from starting up again.

So far, 44 countries worldwide have achieved this milestone.

Conclusion

Achieving malaria-free status is huge for both Egypt and Africa in general since it’s one more step in winning the fight against a disease that has claimed millions of lives in the region.

This certification is only the beginning for the country, and there is need for concerted efforts to sustain what they have achieved.

Other African nations will take inspiration from what Egypt has done and will aim to attain the same feat.

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