AT the recent Malaria Conference hosted by the Health Ministry, there were several presentations focused on the mosquito-borne illness, one of which addressed the countries in Latin America and the Caribbean affected by the disease.

Guyana was listed in ‘phase two’, which is the control phase, alongside Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Dominican Republic, French Guiana, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela.
This was highlighted during a presentation by Dr. Keith Carter, who is attached to the Pan American Health Organisation’s (PAHO) head office in Washington, D.C.
Countries such as Argentina, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Mexico and Paraguay are in the pre-elimination phase.
Dr. Carter outlined that in combating malaria there are several international strategies. These include the Global Malaria Eradication Strategy (Mexico 1955), Global Malaria Control Strategy (Amsterdam 1992), Roll Back Malaria (RBM) Initiative (1998) and the UN Millennium Development Goals (2000).
Malaria strategies and plans for the period 2011-2015 are based on: further reduction of malaria morbidity by 75 percent, reducing malaria-related deaths by 25 percent, implementing efforts to eliminate malaria in areas deemed feasible (particularly Mesoamerica and the Southern Cone) and reversing the trend in countries that saw an increased number of cases between 2000 and 2010, particularly the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Venezuela.
With regards to the malaria situation in the Américas, Dr. Carter explained that in 2011, in the 21 endemic countries, there were 490,672 new cases – 69 percent accounted for P. vivax; 30 percent for P. falciparum and 1 percent for P. malariae. These cases were reported in Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela. There was also 113 reported deaths in 2011; a reduction of 70 percent since 2000.
In tackling the malaria situation in Guyana, the Health Ministry has commenced the distribution of 50,000 Long Lasting Insecticide Nets. Thus far, over 37,000 have already been distributed. This initiative is being done through relations with the Regional Democratic Councils, the Ministry of Public Works, Guyana Forestry Commission, Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, Guyana Forest Producers Association and the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners’ Association. This initiative is part of the larger vision which will see 50,000 nets being distributed in 2013.