BELIZE — The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially recognized Belize, a nation on the eastern coast of Central America, as malaria-free after more than 70 years of relentless efforts to eliminate the disease.
This certification acknowledges Belize’s substantial progress in interrupting indigenous malaria transmission by Anopheles mosquitoes nationwide for a continuous period of at least three years, as well as the establishment of a robust surveillance system and prevention programs to prevent resurgence.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, praised the achievement, stating, “WHO congratulates the people and government of Belize and their network of global and local partners for this accomplishment. Belize exemplifies how, with the right tools and approach, we can envision a future free from malaria.”
Belize’s success in curbing malaria is a result of effective investments in control measures. Over the past three decades, the country has experienced a significant reduction in malaria cases, from around 10,000 in 1994 to zero indigenous cases in 2019.
Key strategies have included rigorous surveillance, improved diagnostic access, and the implementation of vector control methods such as insecticide-treated mosquito nets and indoor spraying.
Additionally, trained community health workers have played a crucial role in timely diagnosis and treatment.
The Belize Vector Ecology Center and the national malaria program have maintained a strong partnership, ensuring comprehensive entomological surveillance to gather essential data on the distribution and density of malaria-carrying mosquitoes, as well as their resistance to insecticides.
Collaborative efforts with neighboring countries, including Mexico and Guatemala, have also been instrumental in Belize’s achievements.
The regional and international community has provided vital support to Belize’s malaria elimination endeavors.
Initiatives like the Elimination of Malaria in Mesoamerica and the Island of Hispaniola, backed by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and the Regional Malaria Elimination Initiative, with technical leadership from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), have helped maintain malaria as a top priority in Belize’s public health agenda.
Technical cooperation from PAHO, supported by USAID, has contributed significantly to Belize’s successful anti-malaria campaign.
This accomplishment aligns with PAHO’s Disease Elimination Initiative, which aims to eliminate more than 30 communicable diseases, including malaria, in the Americas by 2030. Belize is also part of the “E-2025” initiative, a group of countries identified by WHO as having the potential to eliminate malaria by 2025.
Belize’s recognition as a malaria-free country marks a remarkable milestone for the region. It joins a growing list of 42 countries and 1 territory worldwide that have received WHO’s malaria-free certification, including 11 countries in the Americas.
The certifications of Azerbaijan and Tajikistan earlier this year further emphasize the progress being made in the global fight against malaria.
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