Cape Verde Achieves Milestone as Fourth African Country to Eradicate Malaria
In a significant triumph, Cape Verde has become the fourth African nation and the 44th globally to eliminate malaria, marking a remarkable journey for the archipelago. The achievement is noteworthy, especially considering that Africa bears the highest burden of mosquito-borne malaria cases worldwide. In 2022, the continent accounted for 94% of the 249 million global cases and 95% of related deaths.
Algeria, Morocco, and Mauritius previously earned the certification of being malaria-free in 2019, 2010, and 1973, respectively.
Cape Verde, comprising 10 islands, faced severe malaria epidemics for years. However, since the 1980s, the disease had been limited to just two islands, Santiago and Boa Vista, both reporting no cases since 2017.
The World Health Organization (WHO) highlighted Cape Verde's "long journey" to elimination, involving free treatment and testing for all newcomers, along with year-round surveillance and mapping of mosquito breeding sites. These measures, now ingrained, will aid the nation in combating other mosquito-borne diseases like dengue fever.
WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, commended Cape Verde's unwavering commitment, saying, "Cape Verde’s success is the latest in the global fight against malaria, and gives us hope that with existing tools, as well as new ones including vaccines, we can dare to dream of a malaria-free world."
Despite this achievement, global malaria cases remain significantly higher than pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels. In 2022, the disease claimed around 608,000 lives, predominantly affecting children and pregnant women. The WHO estimates that between 2019 and 2021, 63,000 malaria deaths resulted from pandemic-related disruptions to healthcare services.
To tackle the disease, two vaccines have gained approval. The R21/Matrix-M, endorsed by the WHO last year, and the RTS,S vaccine, approved 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 profound impact of being certified as a malaria-free country, recognizing the nation's resilience in overcoming health challenges. The achievement is expected to positively influence Cape Verde's external image, benefiting not only tourism but also overall perceptions of the country.
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