Today, Suriname became the first country in the Amazon region receiving malaria -free certification from the World Health Organization (WHO). This historic milestone follows the government and the people of Suriname to carry out about 70 years of commitment to eliminate the disease in their vast rainfall and diverse communities.

“Which congratulates Suriname on this remarkable achievement,” Dr. Tedros Adhanom Gabrisus said, who is the Director General. “This certification is a powerful intelligence of the principle that everyone provides universal access to malaria despite the nationality, background, or migration position Diagnosis And treatment. Suriname’s stable commitment to health equity serves as an inspiration for all countries trying for the malaria-free future. ,

With today’s announcement, a total of 46 countries and 1 region have been certified as malaria-free, which are malaria-free by WHO including 12 countries in the US region.

“Suriname did what was needed To eliminate malariaPAN American Health Organization (PAHO) Director Dr. Jarbas Barbosa said, “Investigating and treating every case to stop and make communities attractive. This means that future generations can be free from this possible fatal disease.”

A certification of malaria eradication is provided when a country has been proved, beyond appropriate doubt, that the series of indigenous transmission has been disrupted nationwide for at least the last three years.

Surinam Health Minister Dr. Amar Ramdin said: “Being malaria-free means that our population is no longer at risk from malaria. In addition, eliminating malaria will have a positive impact on our healthcare sector, will promote the economy, and increase tourism.

“At the same time, we believe that the ongoing vigilance is required to maintain this situation. We should continue to take necessary measures to prevent the reproduction of malaria. We are proud that our communities are now preserved, and we are ready to welcome more visitors for our beautiful surneems, which are completely committed to secure these hard-von gains.”

To eliminate Suriname’s road

Suriname’s malaria control efforts began in the 1950s coastal areas with densely populated country, which were highly dependent on indoor spraying with pesticides DDT and antimymeral treatment. By the 1960s, the coastal regions had become malaria-free and meditated towards the one interior of the country, which was home to various indigenous and tribal communities.

Although indoor sprayed was successful in coastal areas, its effect was limited in the interior of the country due to the prevalence of traditional open -style homes that provide minimal protection against mosquitoes. In 1974, malaria control in the interior was decentralized for the primary health care service of Mediscay Zinging, Suriname, which recruited and trained healthcare workers from local communities to provide early diagnosis and treatment.

Increase in mining activities, especially gold mining that often includes travel between malaria-sustainable regions, increased malaria, in 2001 reached the peak of more than 15 000 cases, which is the highest transmission rate of malaria in the US.

Since 2005, with the support of global funds to fight AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria, the ability to provide diagnosis was greatly expanded in both between mobile groups, especially among mobile groups, with the support of microscopy and the use of rapid clinical trials. Artemicinine-based treatments in Suriname and neighboring countries were introduced in surinem and neighboring countries through PAHO-led studies under Amazon Malaria Initiative (AMI-Ravrada) supported by the United States. Prevention was also strengthened among high-risk groups through the distribution of pesticides-undertaked net funded by global funds.

As of 2006, Malaria had significantly reduced among the indigenous population, inspiring Suriname to focus on high -risk mobile population in mining sectors. To reach these groups, of which were migrants from neighboring spatial countries-the country established a network of malaria service savior, which was directly recruited from mining communities. These trained and supervised community workers provide free malaria diagnosis, treatment and prevention services, playing an important role in closing access intervals in hard-to-wheelers.

Through ensuring universal access to diagnosis and treatment regardless of legal status, deploying a broad network of community health workers, and implementing nationwide malaria screening, including border crossing, Suriname successfully terminated malaria. Last local sent case of Plasu Malaria was recorded in 2018, after that final Plasuri Case in 2021.

Continuous leadership commitment and funding

Suriname’s government has shown strong commitment to eradication of malaria, including the National Malaria Eradication Taskforce, Malaria Program, Malaria Eradication Fund and cross -border cooperation with Brazil, Guyana and French Guiana. For many years, Paho/WHO, with the support of the US government, has provided technical support in Suriname’s anti -malaria campaign. Since 2016, Suriname also participated in the “Elimination 2025” initiative – a group of countries identified as the ability to eliminate malaria by 2025.

This success in Suriname is a demonstration that eradication of malaria in challenging contexts in Amazon Basin and tropical continental countries is possible. The country’s malaria-free certification plays an important role in furthering the eradication initiative of Paho, which aims to eliminate more than 30 communicable diseases including malaria in the US countries by 2030.