Malaria elimination in Sri Lanka: what it would take to reach the goal
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Abstract
Fifty years after narrowly missing the opportunity to eliminate malaria from SriLanka in the 1960s, the country has now interrupted malaria transmission andsustained this interruption for more than 12 months – no indigenous malariacases have been reported since October 2012. This was achieved through aperiod overlapping with a 30-year separatist war in areas that were endemic formalaria. The challenge now, of sustaining a malaria-free country and preventingthe reintroduction of malaria to Sri Lanka, is examined here in the context of rapidpostwar developments in the country. Increased travel to and from the country toexpand development projects, businesses and a booming tourist industry, and theinflux of labour and refugees from neighbouring malarious countries combine withthe continued presence of malaria vectors in formerly endemic areas, to makethe country both receptive and vulnerable to the reintroduction of malaria. Theabsence of indigenous malaria has led to a loss of awareness among the medicalprofession, resulting in delayed diagnosis of malaria despite the availability ofan extensive malaria diagnosis service. Highly prevalent vector-borne diseasessuch as dengue are competing for health-service resources. Interventions thatare necessary at this critical time include sustaining a state-of-the-art surveillanceand response system for malaria, and advocacy to maintain awareness amongthe medical profession and at high levels of government, sustained funding for theAnti-Malaria Campaign and for implementation research and technical guidanceon elimination. The malaria-elimination effort should be supported by rigorousanalyses to demonstrate the clear economic and health benefits of eliminatingmalaria, which exceed the cost of a surveillance and response system. An annualWorld Health Organization review of the programme may also be required.Citation
Risintha Premaratne, Leonard Ortega, Navaratnasingam Janakan & Kamini N Mendis. (2014). Malaria elimination in Sri Lanka: what it would take to reach the goal. WHO South-East Asia Journal of Public Health, 3 (1), 85 - 89. World Health Organization. Regional Office for South-East Asia. https://iris.who.int/handle/10665/329727
Journal
WHO South-East Asia Journal of Public Health, 3 (1): 85 - 89ISSN
2224-3151 (Print)2304-5272 (Electronic)