Guyana aiming for a 90 per cent reduction in Malaria cases by 2025

By Sherrica Thompson

Staff Writer

In keeping with the 2030 target of the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Ministry of Health of Guyana has announced that it is seeking to reduce the mortality rate and the number of cases of malaria in the country by 2025.

The WHO aims to reduce malaria cases and mortality rates by at least 90 per cent, eliminate it in at least 35 countries and prevent a resurgence of the disease in all malaria-free countries.

Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, while speaking at an event held in observance of Malaria Day in the Americas on Friday, said the government of Guyana has strongly embraced WHO’s targets.

“We certainly like to do this much earlier, and you would have seen from the plan that we have unveiled that we’re trying to get closer to the WHO target for 2030 by 2025, and we strongly believe we can do this with the techniques we’re employing,” Dr Anthony said.

The Minister noted that malaria is endemic in Regions One, Seven, Eight, Nine, and in some parts of 10, of the country.  However, he believes that by “adopting a strong strategy where we can be more in the community, we will be able to change this endemic nature of malaria in these regions.”

Minister Anthony also noted that, with traditional and new effective ways, the population of mosquitoes can be reduced in the country.

Malaria is a serious and sometimes fatal disease caused by a parasite that commonly infects a certain type of mosquito, which feeds on humans.

According to the WHO, Guyana represents about 3 per cent of the malaria cases in the Americas. The country reports about 20,000 cases annually.