World Malaria Day – PAHO urges countries to step up access to diagnosis and treatment for vulnerable populations – PAHO/WHO

Washington DC April 25, 2024 (PAHO) – As countries in the Americas report around 480,000 cases of malaria in 2023, on World Malaria Day, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has called on governments to intensify their efforts to address the disease, which affects disproportionately to indigenous communities, migrants and other vulnerable people. populations.

While the number of reported malaria cases in the Americas has decreased since 2017, when cases peaked at 934,000, some countries are still far from reaching the 75% reduction goal by 2025, as proposed by the WHO malaria report. the World Health Organization (WHO). strategy,” said Dr. Sylvain Aldighieri, Director of Communicable Diseases at PAHO. «This is due to the fact that many populations continue to miss out on key interventions, especially in remote and hard-to-reach areas.»

Miners, agricultural workers and other mobile populations are at particular risk of contracting malaria, accounting for between 29 and 64% of cases in some countries, while indigenous populations are also the most affected, accounting for between 25 and 100% of cases. In some parts of the Amazon basin, up to 45% of malaria cases are reported in children under 10 years of age.

To address this, PAHO has called on countries to ensure the availability of malaria diagnosis and treatment services at the primary health care level, particularly in high-burden areas. Engaging affected communities is also key to addressing the problem. This includes engaging community health workers who are trained to conduct rapid testing and provide treatment in Indigenous and hard-to-reach areas.

“Achieving global malaria targets will require an urgent shift in our malaria response, addressing the root causes of the disease and ensuring essential health services are delivered equitably. «Innovative methods of healthcare delivery, including through community health volunteers, are a crucial part of this,» added Dr. Aldighieri.

PAHO continues to work with the countries of the Americas to ensure the implementation of the Action Plan 2021-2025, which is aligned with the WHO strategy against malaria. The action plan seeks to guide national plans and promote joint efforts between countries and partners in the detection, diagnosis and response to malaria.

In the Americas, Paraguay was certified malaria-free in 2018, followed by Argentina in 2019, El Salvador in 2021 and Belize in 2023. This brings the number of malaria-endemic countries in the region to 17, from 21 in 2015. Suriname , Mexico and the Dominican Republic are also close to eliminating the disease.

Malaria is an acute febrile illness caused by the Plasmodium parasite, which is transmitted by the bite of an infected female Anopheles mosquito. Symptoms, including fever, headache, and chills, may be mild. If left untreated, malaria can progress to serious illness and even death.