Ready to beat malaria

SURINAME: MINISTRY OF HEALTH MALARIA PROGRAM SURINAME

Since 2017, the Government of Suriname has committed to the vision of eliminating malaria, reaching zero cases, by 2020. The Ministry of Health Malaria Program – Suriname focuses not only on eliminating and combating malaria in the remaining risk populations and areas, which are mostly mobile, undocumented, migrant gold miners working in remote, hard to reach forested interiors, but also on preventing re-establishment of the disease in places where its local transmission has already been eliminated. The program introduced a strong model of people-centered approach to health, focusing particularly among migrant miners and indigenous communities; and has been relentless in building local capacities and in improving its systems in diagnosis, treatment, and vector control; and in working towards integration of health services and pursuing innovative operational and technological solutions. This malaria champion is an example of a very strong, integrated and well-rounded malaria program that demonstrates a strategic problem-solving approach and response in addressing malaria at the national and local levels, and even across borders.


BRAZIL: (ALTO RIO SOLIMÕES AMAZONAS): CONTROLE DA MALÁRIA EM ÁREAS INDÍGENAS
 

The Indigenous Special Health District (DSEI) is the decentralized management unit of the Indigenous Health Care Subsystem (SasiSUS) responsible for managing health services within a specific dynamic, geographic, population, and administrative area. The Malaria Control Program of the Alto Rio Solimões DSEI aimed to ensure the gradual and sustainable reduction of malaria cases in 233 villages located in the Alto Rio Solimões municipalities, to achieve a positive impact on morbidity and mortality, and to avoid the occurrence of serious cases resulting in social and economic loss. The program facilitated the implementation of early malaria diagnosis and treatment and strengthened malaria surveillance, vector control, health education, and overall primary health care, that contributed to an approximately 70% reduction in malaria cases since 2015 in a geographically challenging area encompassing over 70,000 indigenous people spread across 13 river towns. This was achieved through the development of strong partnerships among leaders and health workers in the state, municipality, local NGOs and the Special Indigenous Sanitary District (DSEI). This malaria champion shows that tailored approaches and smart use of available tools and interventions can strongly position communities towards malaria elimination.


BRAZIL: (MACHADINHO D’OESTE, RONDONIA): MACHADINHO D’OESTE À CAMINHO DA ELIMINAÇÃO
 

 PARAGUAY: NATIONAL MALARIA CONTROL PROGRAM