The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared Egypt malaria-free on Sunday, October 20, 2024. This marked the end of a nearly century-long effort by the North African nation to eliminate the disease.
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus hailed this as a historic moment for a country where malaria has been present since ancient times.
This is a testament to the commitment of the people and government of Egypt to rid themselves of this ancient scourge, Ghebreyesus said.
Egypt is now the third country in the Eastern Mediterranean region to reach this milestone, following the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Morocco. The certification process requires that a country proves no indigenous malaria cases for at least three years and demonstrates the capacity to prevent re-establishment.
WHO noted that Egypt’s success was aided by solid cross-border partnerships, especially with Sudan, and free malaria treatment for all residents. With this certification, Egypt joins a global list of 45 regions recognised as malaria-free. Despite this success, Egypt’s Deputy Prime Minister, Khaled Ghaffar, stressed the need for continued vigilance to maintain the country’s malaria-free status.
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