WHO certifies Cabo Verde malaria-free — third African country to achieve status

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has certified Cabo Verde as a malaria-free country.

Certification of malaria elimination is the official recognition by WHO of a country’s malaria-free status.

The certification is granted when a country has shown — with rigorous, credible evidence — that the chain of indigenous malaria transmission by Anopheles mosquitoes has been interrupted nationwide for at least the past three consecutive years.

A country must also demonstrate the capacity to prevent the re-establishment of transmission.

Cabo Verde is the third country to be certified in the WHO African region, joining Mauritius and Algeria which were certified in 1973 and 2019 respectively.

The country also joins the ranks of 43 countries and 1 territory that WHO has awarded this certification.

In a statement on Friday, the WHO said travellers from non-malaria endemic regions can now travel to the islands of Cabo Verde without fear of local malaria infections.

“This has the potential to attract more visitors and boost socio-economic activities in a country where tourism accounts for approximately 25 per cent of GDP,” the statement reads.

Tedros Ghebreyesus, WHO director general, congratulated the country for the achievement, adding that the government is committed and resilient in its journey to eliminating malaria.

“WHO’s certification of Cabo Verde being malaria-free is testament to the power of strategic public health planning, collaboration, and sustained effort to protect and promote health,” he said.

“Cabo 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.”

On her part, Matshidiso Moeti, WHO regional director for Africa, said Cabo Verde’s achievement is a beacon of hope for the African region and beyond.

“It demonstrates that with strong political will, effective policies, community engagement and multisectoral collaboration, malaria elimination is an achievable goal,” she said.

“The attainment of this milestone by Cabo Verde is an inspiring example for other nations to follow.”

Cabo Verde had eliminated malaria twice: in 1967 and 1983. However, subsequent lapses in vector control led to a return of the disease.