Kehinde Fajobi
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has officially certified Egypt as malaria-free, marking the end of a disease that has plagued the country since ancient times.
In a statement on Sunday, the WHO highlighted the significance of this achievement, which follows nearly a century of determined effort by both the Egyptian government and its people.
“Malaria is as old as Egyptian civilization itself, but the disease that plagued pharaohs now belongs to its history and not its future,” said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus.
“This certification of Egypt as malaria-free is truly historic and a testament to the commitment of the people and government of Egypt to rid themselves of this ancient scourge. I congratulate Egypt on this achievement, which is an inspiration to other countries in the region, and shows what’s possible with the right resources and the right tools.”
Egypt becomes the third country in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region to receive malaria-free certification, following the United Arab Emirates and Morocco. This makes it the first nation in the region to achieve the milestone since 2010.
Globally, 44 countries and one territory have now reached this status.
Deputy Prime Minister of Egypt, Dr Khaled Ghaffar, emphasised that maintaining the malaria-free status would require ongoing effort.
“Receiving the malaria elimination certificate today is not the end of the journey but the beginning of a new phase. We must now work tirelessly and vigilantly to sustain our achievement through maintaining the highest standards for surveillance, diagnosis, and treatment, integrated vector management, and sustaining our effective and rapid response to imported cases,” he said.
Ghaffar also reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to safeguarding public health.
“We will continue with determination and strong will to safeguard the health of all people in Egypt under the wise leadership’s guidance and proceed with enhancing our healthcare system. This will remain a cornerstone in protecting the lives of all people living in and visiting Egypt.”
WHO grants malaria elimination certification when a country proves that the transmission of malaria by Anopheles mosquitoes has been interrupted nationwide for at least three consecutive years. Countries must also demonstrate the ability to prevent the re-establishment of transmission.
“The final decision on awarding malaria-free certification rests with the WHO Director-General, based on a recommendation by the independent Technical Advisory Group on Malaria Elimination and Certification,” the WHO added.