CAIRO: Egypt has just been certified malaria-free by the World Health Organization (WHO), which is a big deal for a country with over 100 million people! This achievement is the result of nearly 100 years of hard work by both the Egyptian government and its people to eliminate malaria, a disease that has been around since ancient times.
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According to Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of WHO, this certification is historic and shows the dedication of Egypt to rid itself of this ancient problem. He praised the achievement, saying it serves as an inspiration for other countries in the region.
Egypt now joins the ranks of only two other countries in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region—UAE and Morocco—to achieve this certification. To get this recognition, Egypt demonstrated that malaria transmission by mosquitoes had been interrupted for at least three years. The country also showed it could prevent malaria from coming back.
Malaria has a long history in Egypt, with traces found as far back as 4000 B.C.E. Early efforts to control the disease started in the 1920s, with the government implementing measures to reduce contact between humans and mosquitoes. Despite setbacks, including a massive increase in cases during World War II, Egypt managed to control the situation with extensive health initiatives.
Now, with this new certification, Egypt is focused on maintaining its status. Officials emphasize the importance of continued surveillance and effective response systems to keep malaria at bay.
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This achievement is not just a win for Egypt but also offers hope to other countries still battling malaria. With the right resources and teamwork, progress is indeed possible.
