Suriname Celebrates Victory: Malaria Eliminated in Amazon First
Suriname has become the initial nation within the Amazon region to receive certification as malaria-free from the World Health Organization. This achievement marks a significant milestone following decades of sustained commitment from the government and people of Suriname, who eradicated the disease across its expansive rainforests and diverse communities.
A Remarkable Achievement
The WHO has congratulated **Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus**, WHO Director-General, on this accomplishment. He stated, This certification is a powerful affirmation of the principle that everyone—regardless of nationality, background, or migration status—deserves universal access to malaria diagnosis and treatment. Suriname’s steadfast commitment to health equity serves as an inspiration to all countries striving for a malaria-free future.
Congratulations to Suriname 🇸🇷 on becoming the first country in the Amazon region to be certified malaria-free by WHO! This remarkable achievement is the result of decades of sustained effort to eliminate malaria. pic.twitter.com/hQoQf73f2s
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) January 3, 2024
Out of the 12 nations within the Americas, Suriname joins 46 other countries and one territory certified as malaria-free by the WHO. This certification is awarded when a country demonstrates, beyond doubt, that the indigenous transmission chain has been broken nationwide for at least the previous three years.
“Suriname did what was needed to eliminate malaria—detecting and treating every case quickly, investigating to prevent spread, and engaging communities,”
—Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)
According to the CDC, in 2021, there were 247 million malaria cases globally, demonstrating the ongoing threat of this disease (CDC Data).
Suriname’s Path to Freedom
The Minister of Health of Suriname, **Dr. Amar Ramadhin**, emphasized that being malaria-free protects the population. He said that it would have positive impacts on the healthcare sector, boost the economy, and boost tourism. Furthermore, the country recognizes the need for continuous vigilance to prevent malaria’s reintroduction.
In the 1950s, Suriname initiated malaria control efforts in densely populated coastal regions, relying heavily on indoor spraying with DDT and antimalarial treatments. By the 1960s, coastal areas were free of malaria, and focus shifted to the country’s interior, where indigenous communities resided.
Mining activities, especially gold mining, led to spikes in malaria cases. The number of cases peaked in 2001, reaching over 15,000. Since 2005, the capacity for diagnosis has been improved, along with the use of rapid diagnostic tests.
By 2006, with malaria drastically decreasing among indigenous populations, Suriname focused on high-risk mobile populations in remote mining areas. A network of Malaria Service Deliverers provided free malaria diagnosis, treatment, and prevention services.
Suriname has successfully eliminated malaria by ensuring universal access to diagnosis and treatment. The last locally transmitted case of *Plasmodium falciparum* malaria was recorded in 2018, followed by the final *Plasmodium vivax* case in 2021.
Sustained Efforts
The government of Suriname has shown strong commitment to malaria elimination. For years, PAHO/WHO, with support from the U.S. Government, provided technical cooperation. Since 2016, Suriname has also participated in the “Elimination 2025” initiative.
The success in Suriname demonstrates that malaria elimination is possible in challenging contexts in the Amazon basin. This certification plays a critical role in advancing PAHO’s Disease Elimination Initiative, which targets eliminating more than 30 communicable diseases, including malaria, by 2030.
