Cape Verde Achieves Malaria-Free Status, Becomes Third African Country to Do So

Credit: Unspalsh

Cape Verde Celebrates Success in Eliminating Malaria

Cape Verde has recently made history by becoming the third country in Africa and the 44th in the world to eliminate malaria. This significant achievement is a testament to the country’s unwavering commitment and resilience in combating the mosquito-borne disease.

In 2022, Africa accounted for 94% of the 249 million malaria cases globally and 95% of the deaths related to the disease. Cape Verde, which regularly experienced severe malaria epidemics across its 10 islands, has successfully confined malaria to only two islands, Santiago and Boa Vista, both of which have not recorded any cases since 2017.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has recognized Cape Verde’s “long journey” to elimination, which included measures such as free treatment and testing for all new arrivals, systematic surveillance of mosquito breeding sites, and ongoing efforts to fight other mosquito-borne diseases like dengue fever. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus commended Cape Verde for its achievement, expressing hope for a malaria-free world with the use of existing and new tools, including vaccines.

Cape Verde is the third African country to eliminate malaria pic.twitter.com/uaGannaYjP

— Naija (@Naija_PR) January 12, 2024

Despite this success, global malaria cases remain high, with approximately 608,000 deaths reported in 2022, mostly among children and pregnant women. The pandemic has further exacerbated the situation, leading to an estimated 63,000 malaria deaths due to disruptions in healthcare services between 2019 and 2021.

In the fight against malaria, two vaccines have been approved to help combat the disease. The R21/Matrix-M vaccine, recommended for widespread use by the WHO last year, and the RTS,S vaccine, endorsed by the agency in 2021, are being rolled out in 12 African countries over the next two years.

Cape Verde’s Prime Minister, Ulisses Correia e Silva, emphasized the significance of the country’s achievement, stating that the certification as a malaria-free country has a positive impact on its external image, particularly in tourism. The Prime Minister also highlighted the recognition of Cape Verde’s health system’s accomplishments.