Cape Verde Achieves Malaria-Free Status, Declared by the World Health Organization (WHO)
The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially proclaimed Cape Verde to be free of malaria, marking a momentous achievement in the ongoing global effort to combat the disease. Situated as an archipelago comprising 10 islands in the central Atlantic Ocean, Cape Verde has grappled with significant malaria epidemics in densely populated regions, necessitating targeted interventions for containment.
In a statement, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed optimism, stating, “(It) gives us hope that with existing tools, as well as new ones including vaccines, we can dare to dream of a malaria-free world.”
Within the heavily affected African region, Cape Verde has now emerged as the third country, following in the footsteps of Mauritius and Algeria, to successfully eliminate the mosquito-borne disease. This accomplishment positions Cape Verde among the esteemed group of 43 countries and one territory certified by the WHO for their efforts in malaria eradication.
The certification holds particular significance for Cape Verde, as emphasized in the statement, with potential benefits encompassing increased tourism and a subsequent enhancement of socio-economic activities. Tourism, constituting approximately 25% of the country’s GDP, stands to experience positive growth as a result of this recognition.
The WHO’s certification process entails a meticulous evaluation, and it is conferred when a country demonstrates the absence of locally transmitted malaria cases for a minimum of three consecutive years.
