The World Health Organisation has certified Azerbaijan and Tajikistan malaria-free for achieving the elimination of malaria in their territories.
The certification follows a sustained, century-long effort to stamp out the disease by the two countries.
The WHO made this known in a press statement made available to our correspondent on Wednesday.
“The people and governments of Azerbaijan and Tajikistan have worked long and hard to eliminate malaria,” said WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus.
“Their accomplishment is further proof that, with the right resources and political commitment, eliminating malaria is possible. I hope that other countries can learn from their experience.”
Certification of malaria elimination is the official recognition by the WHO of a country’s malaria-free status.
The certification is granted when a country has shown – with rigorous, credible evidence – that the chain of indigenous malaria transmission by Anopheles mosquitoes has been interrupted nationwide for at least the past three consecutive years. A country must also demonstrate the capacity to prevent the re-establishment of transmission.
