(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) GENEVA, May 22 (KUNA) -- Algeria and Argentina have been officially recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as malaria-free countries, it was announced Wednesday.
"Algeria is the second country in the WHO African Region to be officially recognized as malaria-free, after Mauritius, which was certified in 1973," said WHO in a press release.
Argentina is the second country in the Americas to be certified in 45 years, after Paraguay in June 2018.
Algeria and Argentina suffered for hundreds of years from the disease, yet reported their last cases of indigenous malaria in 2013 and 2010 respectively.
Due to improved surveillance, free diagnosis and treatment, both countries managed to rapidly identify and treat malaria cases.
"Thanks to the unwavering commitment and perseverance of the people and leaders of both countries, Algeria and Argentina have eliminated malaria," said WHO Director General Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus.
"Their success serves as a model for other countries working to end this disease once and for all," he added.
Algeria's subsequent success in beating the disease can be attributed primarily to a well-trained health workforce, the provision of malaria diagnosis and treatment through universal health care, and a rapid response to disease outbreaks.
On his part, WHO Regional Director for Africa Dr. Matshidiso Moeti said "Malaria was discovered in Algeria almost a century and a half ago, which was a significant milestone in responding to the disease. It can be beaten through country leadership, bold action, and science."
As for Argentina, it set out to eliminate malaria in the 1970s by adopting key elements that included training health workers to spray homes with insecticides, diagnosing the disease through microscopy, and effectively responding to cases in the community.
Cross-border collaboration was also critical. Between 2000 and 2011, Argentina worked closely with the Government of Bolivia to spray more than 22,000 homes in border areas and conduct widespread malaria testing.
"Laboratory and surveillance systems, financing necessary and other procedure were taken to prevent spreading the disease," said Director of the Pan American Health Organization, WHO regional office for the Americas Dr. Carissa Etienne.
"I am sure that Argentina will serve as an inspiration and as an example for other countries of the Americas to achieve the elimination of malaria in the coming years."
The certificates will be presented by the WHO Director General to representatives from Algeria and Argentina on the sidelines of the 72nd session of the World Health Assembly.
WHO grants a certification of malaria elimination when a country has proven, beyond reasonable doubt, that the chain of indigenous transmission has been interrupted nationwide for at least the previous three consecutive years.
Contracted through the bite of an infected mosquito, malaria remains one of the world's leading killers, with an estimated 219 million cases and over 400,000 malaria-related deaths in 2017. Approximately 60 percent of fatalities are among children under 5 years. (end)
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