WASHINGTON, CMC – The Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) on Friday, named the Dominican Republic, Belize and Suriname, as well as the Mexican state of Quintana Roo and the Brazilian city of Manaus as the 2023 Malaria Champions of the Americas for their sustained actions towards malaria elimination in the region.

The awards were presented at an event to celebrate Malaria Day in the Americas, including the Caribbean, which takes place on November 6.

During the ceremony, PAHO and its partners acknowledged the national and sub-national efforts of these countries, as well as the impact the projects have had in addressing malaria and improving the health of their populations.

“Despite the significant challenges that remain in eliminating malaria in the Americas, we also have successful experiences like the projects awarded today, which help position us as one of the regions making the most progress towards the elimination of this disease globally,” said PAHO Director, Dr Jarbas Barbosa.

PAHO said the Dominican Republic was recognised for its efforts to interrupt malaria transmission by 2022 in Los Tres Brazos, the main urban focus of the disease in recent years.

Belize was distinguished for its continued efforts to eliminate malaria, achieving World Health Organisation (WHO) certification as a malaria-free country in 2023, PAHO said.

It said Suriname was awarded for being the first Amazonian country to report zero malaria cases for a year.

The state of Quintana Roo (Mexico) was also recognised for its efforts to interrupt malaria transmission and prevent the reestablishment of the disease in a context of high population mobility, PAHO said.

It said the municipality of Manaus (Brazil) was distinguished for its intensified surveillance initiatives to interrupt the transmission of P falciparum.

“These actions are best practices that can inspire other countries, decision-makers, and stakeholders, to achieve the goal of eliminating malaria throughout the region,” Dr Barbosa said.

“We invite everyone to join efforts against this potentially fatal disease, which disproportionately affects vulnerable populations living in areas with limited access to healthcare services.”

The Malaria Champions is a collaborative effort involving PAHO, the United Nations Foundation, the Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University, Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Communication Programs, the Florida International University and the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Health.

Since 2009, over 40 projects across the region have been recognised with this award.

Malaria is a disease caused by parasites of the genus Plasmodium, which are transmitted to humans through the bite of infected Anopheles mosquitoes.

PAHO said it is prevalent in tropical regions, and its symptoms can range from mild, such as fever and headache, to severe forms with a risk of death.

To combat this disease, PAHO has stressed the importance for countries and their partners to prioritise actions to improve access to diagnosis and treatment, addressing the barriers that affected communities may face, such as rural and mobile populations.

Malaria is among over 30 diseases targeted for elimination as part of its 2030 Elimination Initiative of Communicable Diseases.