‘Important milestone’: WHO Director-General congratulates Egypt for eliminating malaria

Ahram Online , Sunday 20 Oct 2024

World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus congratulated Egypt on Sunday on eliminating malaria, describing it as “another important milestone”.

important milestone
Minister of Health and Population Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar received a certification from (WHO) declaring Egypt malaria-free

 

Tedros' remarks came in a recorded speech during the 2nd Global Congress on Population, Health & Human Development (PHDC’24), held in Egypt's New Administrative Capital (NAC).

“Today we celebrate another important milestone: Egypt's certification of malaria elimination,” said Adhanom in his address, noting that this achievement results from a century of commitment from the Egyptian government and its people.

Adhanom also recalled his visit to Cairo last year to award President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi with a WHO certificate, recognizing Egypt as the first country in the world to achieve gold-tier status for its progress toward eliminating the Hepatitis C virus.

History of Spread
 

Malaria has been present in Egypt since around 4000 B.C., with genetic evidence found in Tutankhamun and other mummies, according to the WHO.

Efforts to reduce human-mosquito contact began in the 1920s with a ban on rice cultivation near homes.

In 1930, malaria was designated a "notifiable disease," leading to the establishment of the first malaria control station.

During World War II, Egypt experienced a significant increase in malaria cases due to disrupted public health services and the invasion of Anopheles arabiensis.

In response, the government established 16 treatment divisions and recruited over 4,000 health workers for vector control.

In 1970, a collaboration with Sudan launched a project to mitigate malaria risks near the Aswan Dam, focusing on rigorous vector control and public health surveillance.

By 2001, malaria was largely under control, and the Ministry of Health shifted its focus to eliminating remaining locally transmitted cases.

A small outbreak in 2014 was effectively managed through early identification and treatment in Aswan.

Over the past decade, Egypt has significantly improved access to health services, providing free malaria diagnosis and treatment, including to undocumented migrants. Furthermore, the country formed a High Committee for Integrated Vector Management in 2016 to promote an integrated approach to tackling vector-borne diseases.

Egypt is committed to preventing malaria resurgence by maintaining robust surveillance and investing in diagnosis, treatment, and vector control.

Long-term partnerships with neighbouring countries, including Sudan, have been essential in maintaining malaria-free status.

In response to the armed conflict in Sudan that began in April 2023, displacing thousands of civilians to Egypt, the Ministry of Health implemented an action plan to provide essential care, address gender-based violence, and respond to malaria, leishmaniasis, and filariasis.

According to WHO, Egypt ensures free access to vital health services for migrants, regardless of their legal status.

 

Life-threatening disease
 

Malaria is a life-threatening disease transmitted primarily by infected female Anopheles mosquitoes, though it can also spread through blood transfusions and contaminated needles, as WHO reported.

Symptoms range from mild, such as fever and chills, to severe, including fatigue and difficulty breathing, with the potential to lead to death within 24 hours.

In 2022, there were an estimated 249 million cases and 608,000 deaths globally, with the WHO African Region facing the highest burden—accounting for 94 percent of cases and 95 percent of deaths.

 

Egypt is the third country in the region to receive malaria-free certification from WHO following the UAE and Morocco.

This certification indicates that a country has successfully interrupted malaria transmission for at least three consecutive years.

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