A group of countries with the potential to eliminate malaria by 2020 have re-emphasized their commitment to become malaria-free within this time frame.
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WHO/J. Ruiz Cicera
Countries of the WHO malaria elimination initiative – known collectively as ‘E-2020’ – expressed their determination to achieve zero indigenous cases of the disease during the second annual global forum of malaria-eliminating countries, which concluded on 13 June in San José, Costa Rica.
“As countries advancing towards zero, we remain committed to eliminating malaria. The global forum has reminded us of how difficult it is to get to the very last cases, but we are fired up to get to the end,” said Nomcebo Dlamini, Chief Surveillance Officer of the National Malaria Control Programme of the Kingdom of Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), speaking on behalf of the E-2020 countries represented at the meeting.
The global forum has reminded us of how difficult it is to get to the very last cases, but we are fired up to get to the end.
- Nomcebo Dlamini, Chief Surveillance Officer of the National Malaria Control Programme of the Kingdom of Eswatini
Organized by WHO and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), WHO Regional Office for the Americas, the forum provided a platform for country representatives to share information and updates on progress towards elimination, as well as on the challenges of reaching zero indigenous cases of the disease.
Many highlighted the presence of malaria along their international borders with higher burden countries as a key hurdle. High levels of importation of malaria parasites and reorienting national malaria programmes from control to elimination are some of the other issues E-2020 countries face in their efforts to get to zero.
On day one of the forum, Paraguay was officially certified free of malaria – the first among the E-2020 countries to attain elimination status. Countries conveyed that Paraguay’s achievement helped to boost their motivation, particularly those that reported less than 100 cases of indigenous malaria in 2017.
“Paraguay serves as an example not only for countries in the Americas, but for all of us on this elimination journey,” said Dr Alejandra Acuña, Vice Minister of Health of Costa Rica.
Exchanging ideas and enhancing E-2020 collaboration
For E-2020 country representatives, the annual global forum is an opportunity to learn first-hand from their peers of the successful strategies and innovations to accelerate and scale up activities.
“What I appreciate the most about this [forum] is hearing of experiences directly from other malaria programmes that are even more successful than we are as a country,” said Tjantilili Mosweunyane, Chief Medical Officer, National Malaria Programme, Botswana.
“In Nepal, we believe many cases are underreported in the private health sector. After returning from the forum, we will convene a high-level dialogue with government and the private sector to improve malaria surveillance in this important sector – a topic that was well discussed this week,” said Badri Nath Jnawali, Director of Nepal’s Ministry of Health and Population.
To improve collaboration among E-2020 countries, many participants suggested initiating regional meetings to continue drawing on the experiences and expertise of countries in the lead-up to the annual global forum, which WHO kick-started in 2017.
Rallying for zero
At the forum’s closing, Dr Pedro Alonso, Director of the WHO Global Malaria Programme, reminded E-2020 countries of their role in the broader global response to the disease. “You provide leadership and optimism that it is possible to do away with this scourge,” he said.
[E-2020 countries] provide leadership and optimism that it is possible to do away with this scourge.
- Dr Pedro Alonso, Director of the WHO Global Malaria Programme
Representatives from 20 of the 21 malaria-eliminating countries attended the forum. They were joined by national observers from Argentina, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama, as well as key malaria partners, including the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, USAID, Council of Ministers of Health of Central America (COMISCA), and UN Foundation (representing the RBM Partnership to End Malaria), among others.
Members of the recently-convened Malaria Elimination Oversight Committee (MEOC), which works with countries to achieve malaria-free status, also attended the San José forum. Among several recommendations drafted by the MEOC, cross-border malaria
transmission was considered a priority.