This is a great public health achievement for Sri Lanka, but anyhow this was not at all easy target for the Sri Lanka to achieve.
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The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Monday declared Sri Lanka Malaria-free, after certifying that the life-threatening disease had been completely eliminated in the island. This Award of Excellence was presented at a function held at the President’s House in Colombo yesterday.
The Regional Director said WHO will continue to support the efforts of Sri Lanka’s health authorities as they relate to malaria, as well as the country’s wider public health mission.
There was a Time in the mid 20th century when Sri Lanka was one of the most Malaria-Affected nation. For instance, after cases of malaria soared in Sri Lanka in the 1970s and 80s, the country revised its strategy, intensively targeting the parasite in addition to targeting the mosquito. The change in strategy proved to be highly effective. Mobile malaria clinics in high transmission areas meant that prompt and effective treatment could reduce the parasite reservoir and the possibility of further transmission. The adaptation and flexibility of strategies and support from key partners such as World Health Organization and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria fast-tracked success.
In an extraordinary Achievement, Sri Lanka now becomes the Malaria free nation and particularly an Island Country.
The five-day WHO event from September 5 to September 9 will also help to showcase Sri Lanka’s achievements in the health sector and the progress the country has made in socio-economic development while highlighting its tourism potential, Sri Lankan officials said.
By comparison, India is third among 15 countries having the highest cases of malaria and deaths due to the disease. And since October 2012, indigenous cases of malaria there have come down to zero.
To prevent parasites re-entering the country, the anti-malaria campaign is working with local and worldwide partners to maintain surveillance and screening, it said.
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The announcement came at the 69th Session of the WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia Region, now underway in Colombo.
