Egypt has been officially certified as malaria-free by the World Health Organization.
This significant achievement follows nearly a century of efforts by the Egyptian government and its citizens to eradicate a disease that has been part of the country’s history since ancient times, as stated by the global health organization on Sunday.
“Malaria is as old as Egyptian civilization itself, but the disease that once troubled pharaohs now belongs to history, not the future,” remarked WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus. “This certification is truly historic and reflects the commitment of the Egyptian people and government to eliminate this ancient scourge. I congratulate Egypt on this achievement, which serves as an inspiration to other countries in the region and demonstrates what can be achieved with the right resources and tools.”
With this certification, Egypt becomes the third country in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region to be recognized as malaria-free, following the United Arab Emirates and Morocco, and the first since 2010. Globally, a total of 44 countries and one territory have reached this important milestone.
“Receiving the malaria elimination certificate today is not the end of our journey, but the start of a new phase. We must work tirelessly to sustain our achievement by maintaining high standards for surveillance, diagnosis, treatment, integrated vector management, and a swift response to imported cases,” stated Egypt’s Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Khaled Ghaffar. “I reaffirm our determination to protect the health of all people in Egypt, guided by wise leadership, while enhancing our healthcare system, which is vital for safeguarding the lives of both residents and visitors.”
The WHO awards certification of malaria elimination when a country has convincingly demonstrated that indigenous malaria transmission by Anopheles mosquitoes has been interrupted nationwide for at least three consecutive years. Additionally, the country must show its capacity to prevent the re-establishment of transmission.
“The final decision on awarding malaria-free certification is made by the WHO Director-General, based on recommendations from the independent Technical Advisory Group on Malaria Elimination and Certification,” the organization added.
